Amnesty International Condemns Tinubu’s Pardons, Says Move Undermines Justice for Victims

Amnesty International Nigeria has criticised President Bola Tinubu’s recent pardon of 175 convicted individuals, saying the move jeopardises justice for victims of human rights abuses. The organisation argued that granting clemency to those found guilty of such crimes undermines accountability and prevents reparations for victims and their families.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Country Director of Amnesty International, Isa Sanusi, expressed deep concern over the pardons, stating that the process appeared to favour perpetrators rather than uphold justice. “The way and manner Nigerian authorities carried out the exercise seemed to prioritise the perpetrators instead of access to justice and effective remedies for victims,” Sanusi said.

President Tinubu’s decision, announced on October 10, 2025, included pardons for several high-profile figures such as Herbert Macaulay, Ken Saro-Wiwa, and former FCT Minister Major-General Mamman Vatsa (retd). However, controversy erupted when the list was found to include individuals convicted of serious crimes, including drug offences and murder — notably Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced in 2020 for killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello.

Amnesty International warned that such actions could erode the rule of law and promote impunity for human rights violations. The organisation urged President Tinubu to review the clemency granted to those convicted of human rights crimes, stressing the importance of truth, justice, and reparations for victims and their families.