Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN) has called for the withdrawal of the list of 175 persons recommended for pardon by President Bola Tinubu.
Naijaonpoint reports that Tinubu recently granted pardon to 175 following approval by the Council of State.
The pardon list led to controversy, especially due to the inclusion of convicts like Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced to death in 2020 for killing her husband, and other inmates whose sentences were commuted or reduced.
Reacting via a statement on Thursday evening, Falana insisted that the exercise should be reviewed in the interest of justice and national morality.
The lawyer argued that the current list includes politically exposed persons, alleged drug barons, armed robbers, terrorists and people convicted of state offences such as culpable homicide and murder, and therefore requires urgent reappraisal.
The statement reads, “Following the recommendation of the Prerogative of Mercy Committee headed by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi SAN, President Bola Tinubu recently granted pardon to 175 persons convicted for various offences.
“It is indisputable that the President is empowered by virtue of Section 175 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to exercise the grant of pardons, reprieves, and commutations of sentences to persons convicted of any offence created by an Act of the National Assembly.
“The list of pardonees includes convicted politically exposed persons, drug addicts and barons, armed robbers, and terrorists, as well as persons convicted for contravening state offences like culpable homicide, murder, obtaining by false pretences.”
Falana said the Federal Government should withdraw and review the list of pardonees without any delay.
He warned that failure to act could undermine public confidence in the exercise.
“The Federal Government should withdraw and review the list of pardonees without any delay in the interest of justice and national morality.
“In particular, the Prerogative of Mercy Committee should recommend to state governors to consider granting pardon to the persons who were convicted of state offences in the list of pardonees in accordance with Section 212 of the Nigerian Constitution,” he added.
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