…say Amnesty International is “deeply concerned” about the manner and scope of the presidential pardons.
ABUJA, NIGERIA – The iNews Times | International human rights organisation, Amnesty International Nigeria, has strongly criticised President Bola Tinubu’s decision to grant clemency to 175 convicted persons, describing it as a blow to justice and a reinforcement of impunity for human rights crimes.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Amnesty International’s Country Director, Isa Sanusi, said the organisation was “deeply concerned” about the manner and scope of the presidential pardons, warning that the move prioritised perpetrators over victims.
“We are deeply concerned by the clemency and pardons granted by the government of President Bola Tinubu to some persons convicted of human rights crimes, as the pardons for these crimes prevent reparations for victims,” Sanusi said.
“The way and manner Nigerian authorities carried out the exercise seemed to prioritise the perpetrators instead of access to justice and effective remedies for the victims and their families.”
The controversial clemency, announced on Friday, October 10, 2025, reportedly covered 175 individuals, including historic national figures such as Herbert Macaulay, Ken Saro-Wiwa, and former FCT Minister under the Babangida regime, Major-General Mamman Vatsa (retd).
However, public outrage erupted following revelations that the list also included convicted drug offenders and individuals jailed for violent crimes – among them Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced to death in 2020 for killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello.
Amnesty International argued that the government’s action could have far-reaching consequences for justice, accountability, and the rule of law in Nigeria.
“The actions of the government have the potential of undermining the rule of law, preventing the emergence of truth, and entrenching impunity for human rights crimes,” Sanusi warned.
He urged President Tinubu to reconsider the pardons granted to those convicted of human rights violations, stressing that justice for victims must take precedence over political or symbolic gestures.
“President Bola Tinubu should reconsider his government’s pardons for those convicted of human rights crimes and uphold the rights of the victims and their families,” he added.
The Presidential Prerogative of Mercy Committee has yet to respond to Amnesty International’s concerns, but analysts note that the development may reignite debates about Nigeria’s justice system, victim protection, and the moral boundaries of executive clemency.
As the controversy unfolds, rights groups are calling for greater transparency in future pardon exercises insisting that forgiveness without accountability risks deepening the culture of impunity.
