Human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, has publicly requested that the Federal Government “withdraw and review” the recent list of individuals granted pardon by President Bola Tinubu.
In a press release issued to journalists on Thursday evening, the senior lawyer argued that this action should be taken in the interest of justice and national morality.
While Falana did not dispute the President’s constitutional authority to grant pardons, reprieves, and commutations for federal offenses, he pointed out that the current list of pardoned individuals wrongly includes those convicted of various state offenses.
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Specifically, he noted that the list contains “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 and obtaining by false pretences.”
The Senior Advocate stated that, instead, the Prerogative of Mercy Committee should advise state governors to consider pardoning those convicted of state offenses, in line with Section 212 of the Nigerian Constitution.
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 pardons, reprieves, and commutations of sentences to persons convicted of any offence created by an Act of the National Assembly.
“The list of pardonees include 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.
“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.”
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