Atiku Faults Tinubu's Abuse Of Clemency Power To Grant Pardon To Drug Traffickers
Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar has attacked President Bola Tinubu for pardoning individuals over serious crimes saying that the action has “undermined justice” and sent a dangerous signal of “complicity” to the nation.
... Says It undermines Justice, emboldens criminality.
Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar has attacked President Bola Tinubu for pardoning individuals over serious crimes saying that the action has “undermined justice” and sent a dangerous signal of “complicity” to the nation.
Atiku said granting presidential pardon to individuals convicted of serious crimes, especially drug traffickers was not only reckless but amounted to serious abuse of presidential power.
In a statement, Atiku declared that the pardons have “provoked outrage across the nation,” arguing that the administration has misused a solemn constitutional instrument designed to temper justice with mercy."
According to the former vice president,
“Ordinarily, the power of presidential pardon is a solemn prerogative… When properly exercised, it elevates justice and strengthens public faith in governance. “Regrettably, the latest pardon issued by the Tinubu administration has done the very opposite.”
He further that the decision to extend clemency to those convicted of “grave crimes such as drug trafficking, kidnapping, murder, and corruption” not only “diminishes the sanctity of justice” but also “sends a dangerous signal to the public and the international community about the values this government upholds.”
Atiku, particularly expressed alarm over the composition of the pardoned individuals, citing data from StatiSense detailing the prevalence of severe offences among those granted clemency.
The data reveals that drug-related crimes accounted for the largest category at 29.2% of the pardons. Other significant categories include unlawful mining (24.0%), homicide (13.5%), and fraud/corruption (12.3%).
According to the former vice president,
“Ordinarily, the power of presidential pardon is a solemn prerogative… When properly exercised, it elevates justice and strengthens public faith in governance. “Regrettably, the latest pardon issued by the Tinubu administration has done the very opposite.”
He further that the decision to extend clemency to those convicted of “grave crimes such as drug trafficking, kidnapping, murder, and corruption” not only “diminishes the sanctity of justice” but also “sends a dangerous signal to the public and the international community about the values this government upholds.”
Atiku, particularly expressed alarm over the composition of the pardoned individuals, citing data from StatiSense detailing the prevalence of severe offences among those granted clemency.
The data reveals that drug-related crimes accounted for the largest category at 29.2% of the pardons. Other significant categories include unlawful mining (24.0%), homicide (13.5%), and fraud/corruption (12.3%).
Further breakdown shows 5.8% were pardoned for hijacking, 2.3% for firearms offences, 2.3% for robbery/theft, and 1.8% each for kidnapping and human trafficking.
“At a time when Nigeria continues to reel under the weight of insecurity, moral decay, and a surge in drug-related offences, it is both shocking and indefensible that the presidency would prioritise clemency for those whose actions have directly undermined national stability and social order,” the statement added
Furthermore, he condemned the high number of drug offenders receiving clemency. “Particularly worrisome is the revelation that 29.2% percent of those pardoned were convicted for drug-related crimes at a time when our youth are being destroyed by narcotics, and our nation is still struggling to cleanse its image from the global stain of drug offences.”
The statement also drew a direct link between the pardons and President Tinubu’s own controversial history regarding drug investigations in the United States.
“Even more disturbing is the moral irony that this act of clemency is coming from a President whose own past remains clouded by unresolved and unexplained issues relating to the forfeiture of thousands of dollars to the United States government over drug-related investigations,” Mr Abubakar stated. “It is, therefore, no surprise that this administration continues to demonstrate a worrying tolerance for individuals associated with criminal enterprise.”
Atiku further stressed, that the act of clemency represents“a mockery of the criminal justice system, an affront to victims, a demoralisation of law enforcement, and a grave injury to the conscience of the nation.
“Clemency must never be confused with complicity. When a government begins to absolve offenders of the very crimes it claims to be fighting, it erodes the moral authority of leadership and emboldens lawlessness. Nigeria deserves a leadership that upholds justice, not one that trivializes it,” he added.
“At a time when Nigeria continues to reel under the weight of insecurity, moral decay, and a surge in drug-related offences, it is both shocking and indefensible that the presidency would prioritise clemency for those whose actions have directly undermined national stability and social order,” the statement added
Furthermore, he condemned the high number of drug offenders receiving clemency. “Particularly worrisome is the revelation that 29.2% percent of those pardoned were convicted for drug-related crimes at a time when our youth are being destroyed by narcotics, and our nation is still struggling to cleanse its image from the global stain of drug offences.”
The statement also drew a direct link between the pardons and President Tinubu’s own controversial history regarding drug investigations in the United States.
“Even more disturbing is the moral irony that this act of clemency is coming from a President whose own past remains clouded by unresolved and unexplained issues relating to the forfeiture of thousands of dollars to the United States government over drug-related investigations,” Mr Abubakar stated. “It is, therefore, no surprise that this administration continues to demonstrate a worrying tolerance for individuals associated with criminal enterprise.”
Atiku further stressed, that the act of clemency represents“a mockery of the criminal justice system, an affront to victims, a demoralisation of law enforcement, and a grave injury to the conscience of the nation.
“Clemency must never be confused with complicity. When a government begins to absolve offenders of the very crimes it claims to be fighting, it erodes the moral authority of leadership and emboldens lawlessness. Nigeria deserves a leadership that upholds justice, not one that trivializes it,” he added.
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