The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has strongly condemned President Bola Tinubu’s decision to grant presidential pardons to 175 individuals, including convicted drug traffickers, illegal miners, capital offenders, and public officials found guilty of corruption.
In a statement by its Executive Director, Comrade Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), who is also Head of Transparency International Nigeria, CISLAC described the clemency as ‘legally questionable, morally wrong, and damaging to Nigeria’s image both locally and internationally’.
Among those pardoned were individuals involved in oil theft, kidnapping, illegal mining, and other transnational crimes.
CISLAC argued that such individuals should not be beneficiaries of a presidential pardon, especially when some were not even tried under Nigerian jurisdiction.
The organisation warned that the decision could significantly undermine international legal cooperation, particularly in the areas of anti-corruption and narcotics control, where Nigeria relies heavily on foreign intelligence, technical support, and collaboration. The group also noted that the country’s ability to pursue international mutual legal assistance on asset recovery could be negatively affected.
‘Pardoning individuals convicted for drug trafficking, financial crimes, and other serious offences sends the wrong signal to Nigeria’s international partners and undermines the credibility of our justice system’, the statement added.
It expressed concern over the demoralising effect the decision could have on anti-corruption and law enforcement agencies, pointing out that these institutions invested considerable resources in investigating and prosecuting the now-exonerated individuals.
CISLAC said: ‘It’s an insult to the justice system and a slap in the face of the anti-corruption agencies who risked their lives to bring some of these people to justice. How do you motivate EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission), ICPC (Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission), NDLEA (National Drug Law Enforcement Agency), CCB (Code of Conduct Bureau) or police officers to continue their work when their efforts are undone with a single signature’?
It also highlighted the contrast between the swift clemency granted to high-profile individuals and the continued neglect of thousands of poor Nigerians languishing in correctional facilities without trial, some for more than a decade.
‘You have people in prison for petty crimes or no trial at all for 10 to 20 years, but here we are watching the state extend mercy to individuals who have done real damage to the economy and the social fabric of the country’, the statement said.
According to the government, the presidential pardon was based on reports of good behaviour, acquisition of vocational skills, old age, and remorse. Some of the beneficiaries were said to have enrolled in the National Open University of Nigeria. In addition, seven inmates on death row reportedly had their sentences commuted to life imprisonment.
However, CISLAC insisted that forgiveness should not translate into exoneration, especially for those whose crimes have caused significant harm to the nation and its citizens, adding: ‘Pardon implies that they never committed a crime, that they are no longer ex-convicts. That’s dangerous. These individuals can now sue if they’re labelled as ex-convicts. We are effectively rewriting history and absolving criminals of responsibility’.
The group further warned that the decision could embolden organised crime networks involved in oil theft, kidnapping, drug trafficking, and illegal mining, thereby worsening insecurity across the country.
‘Some of these individuals may return to the very same criminal networks they were part of. This action will only strengthen the culture of impunity’, CISLAC cautioned.
It called for a complete review of the presidential pardon process and recommended the development of a more transparent framework. The organisation suggested that priority should be given to inmates awaiting trial and those convicted for non-violent offences.
‘This is a serious lapse in judgment. Those who advised the president have done the country a disservice. National interest should come before political considerations’, CISLAC said.
It urged the Federal Government to reaffirm its commitment to justice, equity, and international cooperation, warning that continued disregard for due process would further erode Nigeria’s image on the global stage.
