More than a week after President Bola Tinubu granted pardons to inmates across the country, controversy over the pardon persists.
While many people and most civil society groups have condemned the inclusion of those convicted of heinous crimes, some senior lawyers have declared that the president has not broken any law in the matter. They, however, suggested the amendment of the law granting the president the power to pardon convicts.
Last week, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice clarified that no inmate approved for clemency under the recent presidential exercise of the power of prerogative of mercy has yet been released from custody.
According to the office, the process remains at the final administrative stage, which includes a standard review to ensure that all names and recommendations fully comply with established legal and procedural requirements before any release instrument is issued.
NDLEA Makes Largest Ever Drug Seizure
Meanwhile, less than three months to the end of the year, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has made the highest annual seizure of illicit drugs in the country, totalling 4,262,376.56 kilogrammes, investigations by LEADERSHIP Sunday have revealed.
Also, 17,793 arrests were made, comprising 15,884 men and 1,909 women, while 3,322 offenders were convicted.
This figure of drug seizure marks a sharp increase from the 2,726,850.51 kilogrammes of drugs seized in 2024.
Previously, that year was considered the highest annual seizure in history, with many suspects arrested and prosecuted.
In 2014, 548,003.831 kilogrammes of cannabis on 29 farmlands, covering 219.202 hectares across 11 states, were destroyed.
Investigations also revealed that 1,755,840.48 kilogrammes were seized at various interdiction points, while 17,751.81 kilogrammes were seized at land borders. Of this figure, 10,048.65 kilogrammes were seized at Seme Border and 7,703.16 kilogrammes at Idiroko Border in Lagos and Ogun States, respectively.
It was also gathered that the largest share of seizures, 1,736,301.26 kilogrammes, was made at seaports.
A breakdown of this figure shows that 1,227,595.42 kilogrammes (70.7 per cent) were seized at Port Harcourt Seaport; 454,586.54 kilogrammes (26.1 per cent) at Tincan Seaport; 54,116.17 kilogrammes (3.1 per cent) at Apapa Seaport; and 3.13 kilogrammes at WPC.
The agency also destroyed 304,436.055 kilogrammes of drug exhibits during the period under review.
The NDLEA also implicated some airlines in drug trafficking through airports, identifying Ethiopian Airlines as the most frequently used carrier. Other airlines mentioned, though less frequently, include Qatar Airways, Airpeace, South African Airways, Air France, British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Delta Airlines, and Lufthansa.
Regarding seizures made within the nine months, NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi told LEADERSHIP Sunday that 14,519 suspects have been arrested while 2,424 have already been convicted.
The NDLEA has also successfully destroyed 538.8152 hectares, totalling 1,347,038.03 kilogrammes of cannabis farms in 2025.
Most Trafficked Drug Substances
Data obtained from the NDLEA shows that cocaine is one of the most trafficked illicit drugs in the first quarter of 2025. The agency seized about 138.39 kg of cocaine worth over N108 billion.
The breakdown is as follows: January, 128.58 kg; February, 6.78 kg; March, 3.04 kg—totalling 138.39 kg with an estimated street value of N108 billion.
Between January and March, significant quantities of frequently trafficked drugs were seized, including 14.19 kg of heroin, 52.35 kg of methamphetamine, and 943.06 kg of tramadol. Smaller amounts of Rohypnol (6.17 kg) and diazepam (320.07 kg) were also confiscated. Notably, large volumes of codeine-based cough syrup (66,604.37 kg) and cannabis (33,854.80 kg) were seized, highlighting the scale of drug trafficking during this period.
Illicit Drug Trade Linked to Human Trafficking, Illegal Mining – UNODC
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has stated that the illicit drug trade is deeply connected to other crimes including human trafficking, illegal mining, and environmental destruction.
The UNODC added that proceeds from the illicit drug trade often finance violent extremist groups, further destabilising affected regions.
Country Representative Cheikh Ousman Toure made these remarks recently in Abuja during a joint press briefing with the NDLEA as part of activities marking World Drug Day 2025.
Represented by the deputy head of UNODC in Nigeria, Danilo Campisi, Toure emphasised the importance of preventive measures in addressing global drug use problems.
According to him, “The illicit drug trade is deeply connected to other crimes including human trafficking, illegal mining, and environmental destruction. Its proceeds often finance violent extremist groups further destabilising affected regions. Together, these interconnected crimes form a vicious circle that entrenches poverty, exploitation, institutional weakness, and addiction.”
While commending Marwa and the NDLEA for their excellent work in Nigeria, the UNODC called on state governments to become actively involved in the efforts coordinated by the NDLEA.
Toure said: “Stopping drug trafficking requires long-term coordinated action to address supply and demand and prevent organised criminal groups from exploiting vulnerabilities.
“Most critically, we must involve the sub-nationals. State governments must be actively involved in drug control efforts, working with the NDLEA and other relevant entities to ensure the availability of evidence-based prevention and treatment programmes in their states. We will not make significant progress if interventions continue to be centralised.
“This is why UNODC’s support to Nigeria remains resolute and multifaceted. We are working side-by-side with the government of Nigeria to build forensic and border management capacity to intercept drug flows and strengthen law enforcement capabilities; enhance regional responses to transnational organised crime through training, intelligence sharing, and support for joint investigations.
“We stand in solidarity with the Nigerian government, civil society, and communities in the fight to dismantle criminal chains, prevent addiction, and restore dignity through recovery.
“We also commend the leadership of NDLEA and the chairmanship of General Marwa, whose strategic and courageous efforts continue to make an impact on both the supply and demand sides of this crisis. UNODC is truly proud to be a partner in this vital journey.”
Constitution Gives Tinubu Right to Grant Pardon – Lawyers
Mr Mohammed Ndarani Mohammed, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), told LEADERSHIP Sunday that those complaining about the presidential pardon should petition the National Assembly for an amendment to the 1999 Constitution.
He said the law on prerogative of mercy grants discretion to the president and governors to exercise.
He stated, “People are always complaining that the discretion President Bola Ahmed Tinubu exercised was not in line with the law, but in my opinion, these people are mistaken because if you look at the preamble of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it says ‘We, the people of Nigeria, gave unto ourselves the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.’ This means that everything in that constitution, whether good or bad, we have all indivisibly agreed upon.
“The complaints by some Nigerians are unjustified because the 1999 Constitution binds us together. So, if the president invokes a provision of the Constitution bestowed on him by law in his own discretionary powers, how can one complain?
“If anyone feels aggrieved with any section of the Constitution, the proper place to address that is the National Assembly to amend the provision.”
He added that those challenging the president are, in fact, challenging the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.
“I hold this opinion independently, without fear or bias. By invoking this provision of the constitution, the president respected the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Presidential pardon is not unique to Nigeria; every constitution worldwide contains it. It is exercised whenever the need arises. A criminal in a Correctional Centre has the right to write to the president and ask for pardon.”
Citizens’ concern can be addressed through legislation – Omoluabi, SAN
Constitutional lawyer Barrister Paul Omoluabi agreed with the SAN, saying the law gives the president considerable discretion to grant pardons.
According to him, the complexity surrounding the prerogative of mercy arises because the Constitution does not provide clear guidelines for its use.
He said the president’s power to grant a pardon cannot be halted by public opinion or speculation about its potential impact on crime rates.
Barrister Omoluabi stated, “The presidential power of prerogative of mercy in Nigeria is a constitutional provision granting the President considerable discretion. Notably, there are no constitutional provisions allowing for challenges to the exercise of this power. The President usually exercises this power after thorough consideration, often through the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation.
“Consider the case of Maryam Sanda, who was convicted by the FCT High Court and had her conviction upheld by the Court of Appeal in 2020. Although the decision was upheld, an appeal was filed to the Supreme Court, so the case remains pending.
“Some have questioned why she has not yet been executed, but as long as a convict has not exhausted their right of appeal, execution cannot proceed. This is evident in the case of Nafiu Bello v The State, where the convict was executed while their appeal was pending, leading to a successful lawsuit by their estate.
“The complexity around the prerogative of mercy is that the Constitution and other laws do not specify guidelines for its use. The authority is granted, but how it is exercised is left flexible.
“These provisions are designed for those awaiting trial or convicted, without prejudice to the merits of the case. While society may question the rationale behind exercising these powers, such concerns can only be addressed through proper constitutional amendment.”
Dino Differs, Says Security Officers Now Under Threat
But a member of the opposition and fierce critic of President Tinubu’s government, Dino Melaye, said the government’s action can affect the morale of National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) officials who arrested and jailed drug offenders.
He said, “Granting pardons to 70 convicted drug lords, a number unprecedented in Nigeria’s history and, according to available checks, without precedent anywhere in the world, is a reckless act that undermines not only the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) but the very foundations of law, order, and justice. By this singular act, years of painstaking work, intelligence operations, and undercover risks undertaken by NDLEA operatives have been rendered meaningless.
“This decision poses grave dangers to the men and women who have dedicated their lives to fighting the drug menace. Many of these officers risked everything — their safety, their families, and their reputations — to ensure the conviction of these same criminals. To now see those individuals walk free, shielded by presidential pardon, is to expose these officers to direct retaliation and vengeance. The drug trade is not a benign enterprise; it is a violent and vindictive underworld, where memories are long and retribution is often deadly.
“By freeing convicted drug barons, the government has effectively compromised the security of NDLEA operatives, prosecutors, and judges who stood firm in the pursuit of justice. “Their families now live under the shadow of fear, knowing that those once behind bars now roam free, empowered, embittered, and seeking to settle scores. The pardon not only releases the offenders; it releases danger back into society.”
Pardon of Corruption, Drug Crimes, Other Convicts Bad – CSOs
Similarly, civil society organisations (CSOs), analysts, and public commentators have continued to express outrage over the inclusion of individuals convicted of serious crimes such as murder, drug trafficking, kidnapping and corruption.
Those who spoke with LEADERSHIP Sunday described the decision as a setback for justice and the rule of law in the country.
While the list includes symbolic figures such as Herbert Macaulay, a nationalist, and General Mamman Vatsa, a late military officer executed during the Babangida regime, public anger is largely directed at the inclusion of controversial names such as Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced to death for murdering her husband, and Farouk Lawan, a former lawmaker convicted of bribery.
The government defended the clemency, citing factors such as old age, remorse, educational achievements, and good conduct in prison.
However, critics argue that the decision lacks transparency, undermines justice, and could further embolden criminality.
CSOs: “This Pardon Encourages Crime, Undermines Institutions”
In a strongly worded reaction, Gimba Suleiman, Programme Officer for the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), told LEADERSHIP Sunday that the pardon sends dangerous signals to Nigerian youths and undermines efforts to tackle drug-related crimes.
“Absolutely. This decision risks normalising criminal behaviour and glamorising drug trafficking in the eyes of young Nigerians who are already disillusioned by unemployment and inequality,” Suleiman said.
“When convicted traffickers are pardoned without evidence of reform or restitution, it tells the youth that crime pays — that you can profit from illegal trade and later be forgiven by the state.”
He added that such actions erode the deterrent effect of punishment and severely weaken the morale and efforts of law enforcement agencies like the NDLEA.
A Blow to NDLEA’s Fight Against Drugs
Critics have warned that the presidential pardon threatens to undo progress made by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) under the leadership of Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd.).
Between 2021 and 2024, the NDLEA secured over 9,000 convictions and seized more than 7,000 tonnes of narcotics.
“To now pardon convicted traffickers is to devalue that sacrifice,” Suleiman said. “While the NDLEA is fighting on the front lines, the state is effectively negotiating with criminals. It’s a demoralising contradiction.”
CISLAC condemned the timing of the pardon, noting that Nigeria is currently battling a drug abuse epidemic, with NDLEA data indicating 14.3 million drug users nationwide.
“To pardon traffickers at a time like this is morally indefensible. Drug trafficking is directly linked to violent crime, arms smuggling, sexual exploitation, and money laundering. This pardon insults victims, families destroyed by addiction, and officers who have died in the line of duty,” Suleiman stressed.
He argued that clemency should not be used as a political tool, warning that it creates the perception that while the poor face the full consequences of the law, the elite are given a slap on the wrist.
While the presidency insisted that the pardon is constitutional under Section 175 of the 1999 Constitution, CSOs argue that exercising such power must meet ethical and moral standards.
“If the intent was humanitarian — perhaps based on health or old age — then transparency is key. Nigerians deserve to know who was pardoned, why, and what evidence of rehabilitation exists. Anything short of this suggests political favouritism,” Suleiman said.
He added that the lack of clear eligibility criteria, accountability mechanisms, and rehabilitative benchmarks makes the entire process questionable.
Experts fear the clemency could set a dangerous precedent where crime is seen as negotiable and public accountability is diluted.
“This mirrors earlier amnesty programmes for so-called repentant terrorists and bandits, many of whom later returned to crime. When the state consistently rewards wrongdoing under the guise of mercy, it alienates victims, discourages honest officers, and damages society’s moral compass,” Suleiman warned.
He added that drug trafficking is not a victimless crime. It destabilises communities, funds weapons, and endangers national security.
CISLAC’s Recommendations
In response to the controversy, CISLAC has proposed a five-point action plan for reforming the presidential pardon process, including creating a transparent pardon review framework involving the NDLEA, Ministry of Justice, human rights bodies, and civil society; establishing a national victims’ support and rehabilitation fund before granting clemency to offenders; ensure pardons are based on measurable reform, not political appeasement; and developing a National Criminal Intelligence Database that integrates records across security and law enforcement agencies and invest in public awareness and civic education to rebuild values and reinforce deterrence.
CISLAC concluded that Nigeria’s democracy and rule of law are weakened when justice appears selective or politically motivated.
“A state that pardons organised criminals without accountability loses the moral authority to demand obedience from law-abiding citizens,” the organisation said.
“Presidential mercy must not become a sanctuary for impunity. Nigeria cannot build peace on the ruins of justice.”
Pardon Process Not Concluded – Justice Minister
As public scrutiny intensifies, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi has announced that the pardon list remains under review and no inmates have yet been released.
However, citizens and civil society alike continue to demand full transparency, clear justifications, and a halt to politically expedient clemency for serious offenders.
For his part, Dr Christian Okeke, a political science lecturer at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, described it as a “national embarrassment” that highlights deep flaws in Nigeria’s public policy-making process and governance priorities.
Dr Okeke expressed cautious relief over the announcement by the Ministry of Justice that the Prerogative of Mercy list remains under review and is not yet finalised.
However, he lamented that it took intense public backlash and media outrage before the government reconsidered the decision.
“What is sad, however, is that public opinion — or what the government described as ‘public vigilance and constructive feedback’ — had to be brought to bear before that national embarrassment, in the name of a list already approved by the Council of State, could be reviewed,” he said.
Dr Okeke did not mince words in his evaluation of the process, stating that the debacle reflects poorly on Nigeria’s policy-making structure, the calibre of advisers, and the prioritisation of public interest within the Tinubu administration.
According to him, the incident exposes not only the superficial nature of government decision-making but also the absence of institutional independence and resilience.
Foreign Policy Implications and Institutional Gaps
Dr Okeke also raised concerns about the international implications of such controversial decisions, especially when viewed alongside Nigeria’s current diplomatic weaknesses.
“In the area of foreign relations, it shows the poor quality of foreign policy makers and how we do not blink about the injuries caused by embarrassing national policies,” he said.
GRACO Slams Presidential Pardons: “It’s a Violation of Rights, a Mockery of Justice”
Also speaking with LEADERSHIP Sunday, the executive director of the Grassroots Centre for Rights and Civic Orientation (GRACO), Armsfree, said it was “shocked beyond description” at the scope and content of the clemency list, which it claimed “amounts to dancing on the graves of the dead and celebrating the misery of victims still alive.”
While acknowledging that the President has constitutional powers to grant clemency under Nigerian law, GRACO insisted that such powers must not be exercised arbitrarily or in a way that appears to reward impunity, influence-peddling, or political favouritism.
Mercy Must Not Undermine Justice
GRACO emphasised that while rehabilitation and second chances are important aspects of justice, they must not come at the expense of accountability, victims’ rights, and societal deterrence.
“We must not send the wrong signals to society that crimes and criminality have no consequences. Mercy must not undermine justice,” he said.
He criticised the inclusion of high-profile convicts, some of whom were implicated in violent crimes and high-level corruption, stating that many were responsible for ruining lives, destabilising communities, and, in some cases, leading to the deaths of law enforcement personnel.
“Many of these law enforcement officers have lost their lives in the line of duty. A good number of them met their untimely deaths or have been maimed at the hands of some of these violent criminals, who are now being considered for presidential pardon.”
Psychological Impact on Victims and Society
He warned that the decision to pardon such individuals is likely to compound the mental trauma of victims and their families, many of whom are still in the process of healing.
“These raft of pardons for serious crimes amounts to dancing on the graves of the dead victims, while increasing the anguish and mental health trauma of the victims who are still dealing with the consequences of these crimes.”
He argued that the crime of corruption—also featured in the list of pardoned offences—has crippling effects on public services and deepens poverty, especially for the most vulnerable in society.
Call for Transparency and Victim-Centred Justice
He further called on the Federal Government to thoroughly review the list, ensuring that it is not disproportionately filled with connected or politically exposed individuals, while the rights and welfare of crime victims are ignored.
“We demand fairness—especially in the context of the rights and well-being of those affected by the crimes of the convicts. Victims should be consulted and provided with psychosocial support before this kind of action is considered.”
He further urged the administration of President Bola Tinubu to consider the broader implications of such pardons on law enforcement morale, the justice system, and Nigeria’s international image.
CSOs Reject Clemency for Ken Saro-Wiwa, Ogoni 9, say move distorts history
A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) has strongly criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent presidential clemency list, which included the late environmental rights activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight of his Ogoni compatriots executed in 1995.
In a joint statement issued in Abuja, the CSOs described the move as “insensitive, misleading, and historically inaccurate,” arguing that the so-called pardon fails to acknowledge the grave miscarriage of justice that led to the execution of the Ogoni 9.
The statement — endorsed by the Health of Mother Earth Foundation, We the People, Environmental Rights Action, HEDA Resource Centre, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, Kebetkache Women Development and Resource Centre, and other groups — expressed dismay at comments made by Bayo Onanuga, the president’s special adviser on information and strategy, in a State House release entitled “Details of the Presidential Pardon and Clemency.”
The CSOs faulted the categorisation, saying it “erroneously lumps environmental justice icons with convicted murderers and drug offenders, portraying them as common criminals.”
“The reference to Ken Saro-Wiwa and his comrades by the Presidency is offensive to their memory and that of thousands of Ogonis who suffered indignity and repression under the Abacha regime,” the groups said. “It does little to bring closure to their families or justice to the Ogoni people.”
They further criticised the statement’s reference to the four Ogoni leaders murdered by a mob in 1995 as “victims of the Ogoni 9,” describing the narrative as a distortion of historical facts.
The CSOs recalled that Saro-Wiwa and eight others — Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, and Barinem Kiobel — were executed on 10 November 1995, following a controversial military tribunal widely condemned as unjust and politically motivated.
They noted that forced testimonies, denial of appeal rights, and withdrawal of defence lawyers marked the trial, which the international community later described as a “judicial murder.”
