Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Mr. Femi Falana, has called on the Federal Government to immediately withdraw and review the recently released presidential pardon list, describing it as unjust and contrary to the principles of fairness and accountability.
In a statement issued on Friday, Falana criticized the decision to grant pardons to certain individuals convicted of corruption and other serious offenses, arguing that such actions undermine the nation’s anti-corruption efforts and send the wrong signal to the public.
According to Falana, “The exercise of the presidential prerogative of mercy must be guided by transparency, equity, and justice. It is improper to pardon individuals who have looted public funds while many others remain incarcerated for minor offenses.”
He urged the Council of State and the Ministry of Justice to revisit the process that led to the inclusion of the controversial names, emphasizing that the pardon power should be used to promote national reconciliation and social justice, not impunity.
Falana further called for a review of the guidelines governing the grant of state and federal pardons to ensure that future exercises are free from political influence and adhere strictly to constitutional provisions.
Public reactions have been mixed since the list was released, with civil society groups and anti-corruption advocates expressing concern over what they describe as a setback in the fight against graft.
Falana’s intervention adds to the growing pressure on the Federal Government to provide clarity on the rationale behind the controversial pardons and to reaffirm its commitment to transparency and accountability.