Tinubu’s Mass Pardon for Convicts Sparks Nationwide Backlash, Raises Doubts Over Anti-Drug Commitment
Story: written by Okafor Joseph October 14,2025
President Bola Tinubu’s recent decision to grant presidential pardon to 175 convicted Nigerians has drawn widespread criticism and ignited public outrage across the country. The beneficiaries, convicted for crimes ranging from drug trafficking and murder to armed robbery and illegal mining, were released under the President’s constitutional prerogative of mercy.
While the gesture was expected to be applauded as an act of compassion, it has instead provoked anger and deep concern, particularly because many of those pardoned had served only a fraction of their sentences. Critics say the move undermines Nigeria’s anti-drug war and sends the wrong message to criminals and the international community.
Opposition leaders, civil society groups, and political commentators argue that the decision portrays Nigeria as lenient toward serious offenders, potentially emboldening others to commit similar crimes. They warn that it erodes public trust in the justice system and diminishes the sacrifices of law enforcement officers who risk their lives to secure convictions.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC), in a statement by its interim national publicity secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, described the pardon as “an act of national disgrace” that trivialises the nation’s anti-drug efforts. The party noted that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and other security bodies have worked tirelessly to combat narcotics trafficking, and releasing convicted offenders undercuts their hard-earned progress.
“Clemency should correct miscarriages of justice, not reward criminality,” the ADC stated. “By pardoning drug traffickers and murderers who served barely two years, the government mocks the rule of law and endangers public morality.”
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also condemned the decision, calling it “reckless” and “morally indefensible.” In a statement on social media, he argued that the pardon “diminishes the sanctity of justice” and “sends a dangerous signal that Nigeria is soft on crime.”
Atiku warned that the move undermines efforts to fight drug abuse and trafficking—issues that continue to devastate Nigerian youths. He also described the act as “a moral irony,” given the President’s past controversies involving a U.S. forfeiture case linked to narcotics investigations.
Former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai echoed the sentiment, taking a jab at the President on X (formerly Twitter). He wrote: “For a president once accused of forfeiting $460,000 to U.S. authorities in a drug-related investigation, pardoning drug dealers feels less like compassion and more like a cartel reunion.”
Even within the presidency, dissent has emerged. Josef Onoh, the Special Adviser on Policy Communication in the South-East, urged Tinubu to rescind the pardon for notorious convicts, including Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced for the murder of her husband. Onoh described the action as “a moral travesty” and warned that it could “damage Nigeria’s international reputation.”
He argued that the decision contradicts the principles of justice and undermines the rule of law, adding that it could discourage foreign investment and weaken Nigeria’s credibility with global institutions such as the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Public reaction remains overwhelmingly negative, with many Nigerians taking to social media to express dismay. Critics fear the decision will embolden criminals and compromise the integrity of the justice system, while supporters of the administration argue that the pardons reflect the President’s humanitarian outlook.
Nonetheless, the controversy highlights the tension between mercy and justice—and raises difficult questions about Nigeria’s moral compass, global image, and the true intent behind the exercise of presidential clemency.
