•Tinubu’s 1993 drug forfeiture scandal in the U.S. explains his “tolerance for individuals associated with criminal enterprise.”
By Muhammad Mamman
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s recent exercise of presidential pardon, describing it as reckless, dangerous, and a direct assault on the nation’s justice system.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Sunday—less than 24 hours after the federal government released the full list of beneficiaries—Mr Abubakar accused the President of “undermining justice and emboldening criminality” through indiscriminate use of clemency.
Last Thursday, Mr Tinubu granted presidential pardons to several convicts, including Farouk Lawan, a former member of the House of Representatives convicted for a fuel subsidy scam, and Nweke Francis Chibueze, serving a life sentence for cocaine trafficking.
Mr Abubakar condemned the decision, saying:
“Extending clemency to individuals 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.”
He further referenced Mr Tinubu’s own 1993 drug trafficking scandal, in which he forfeited $460,000 to the United States government, suggesting that the president’s history explains his “tolerance for individuals associated with criminal enterprise.”
“Even more disturbing is the moral irony that this act of clemency is coming from a president whose past remains clouded by unresolved issues relating to the forfeiture of thousands of dollars to the U.S. government over drug-related investigations,” he added.
The former vice president expressed concern that nearly 30 per cent of those pardoned were convicted of drug-related offences, at a time when Nigerian youths are battling widespread narcotics abuse and the country struggles to repair its global reputation.
He argued that while the presidential pardon is constitutionally meant to serve as a tool of restitution and moral reform, Tinubu’s version has become “a mockery of the criminal justice system, an affront to victims, and a demoralisation of law enforcement.”
Mr Abubakar concluded that the president’s decision to prioritise clemency for individuals who have undermined national stability was “shocking and unjustifiable,” especially as the nation grapples with insecurity, moral decline, and drug-related challenges.
