Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, accusing him of undermining Nigeria’s justice system by granting presidential clemency to 175 individuals, including persons convicted of serious crimes.
In a statement shared on his verified X (formerly Twitter) account on Sunday, Atiku condemned the move, arguing that the latest round of pardons distorts the real essence of mercy and could encourage lawlessness.
He stated that the power of pardon is a moral and constitutional tool meant to temper justice with mercy but lamented that the Tinubu administration has turned it into a political gesture that trivialises justice.
The statement comes after President Tinubu approved presidential pardons for several individuals on Thursday, including the late nationalist Herbert Macaulay, the late Major General Mamman Vatsa, and Maryam Sanda, who had been sentenced to death for killing her husband.
Atiku said while the prerogative of mercy should promote compassion and fairness, the inclusion of people convicted of grave offences sends the wrong message about justice and accountability.
He explained that when used rightly, clemency strengthens public confidence in governance, but in this case, it does the opposite by weakening faith in the justice system and emboldening criminality.
The former vice president stressed that presidential clemency should not become an instrument that diminishes justice or provides cover for criminal acts. He described the Tinubu administration’s approach as one that risks turning mercy into a political favour rather than a moral obligation.
Atiku warned that misusing the power of mercy could have lasting consequences on the nation’s rule of law, noting that clemency must never stand on the side of crime but should reflect the state’s humanity without compromising justice.
He called on the government to ensure that future exercises of presidential pardon are guided by integrity, fairness, and respect for due process.
The development has sparked public debate, with many Nigerians questioning the rationale behind some of the names on Tinubu’s clemency list.