Tinubu: How Not To Grant State Pardon -By Hajia Hadiza Mohammed

Because of the corrupt judicial system in Nigeria, many believe that most of those in prison across the country today are victims of miscarriage of justice and therefore are not supposed to be there. Nobody even among judicial officers and legal luminaries have any confidence in the system riddled with corruption. The judiciary is no longer the bastion of hope for the common man. Appointment of judges and magistrates are not done on the basis of merit but on primordial considerations. Judges are no longer men of honor as they have wilfully surrendered the power entrusted in them to the politicians and the highest bidder for personal gains. There are court judgments with justice as Judges deliver bizarre and controversial judgments without qualms.

A visit to the prisons in the country is always a horrifying experience to see the condition of those in Nigerian in there. Prison cells are congested and inmates are treated like animals. Prison in Nigeria is called correctional center but there is nothing correctional about it; it is like hell fire. Reports from the NGOs and those in humanitarian services that visit the so-called correctional centers are heart-rending. Prisons are supposed to be a place where offenders are reformed but not so in Nigeria. Many innocent citizens don’t survive their prison experiences as they either die in prison or soon after their release. And over the years, there have been strident calls for the review of the nation’s rotten justice system and prison services. 

In the light of the foregoing, it is always welcoming to hear of pardon for those locked in Nigerian prison cells especially activists, political prisoners, prisoners of conscience and those convicted in error. This right to grant amnesty to convicts is usually that of the president or the governors. It is so not just for the purpose of correcting judicial errors but for purpose of calming political tides, managing conflicts and uniting the nation. Presidential pardon is not done to score cheap political points but it is done to give hope to the prisoners and balance expectations. And that is why is it expected that the exercise of prerogative of mercy should be done with discretion otherwise it becomes an abuse of power. 

The recent announcement of pardon for about 147 convicts serving in different prisons across the nation by the president Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has generated much fuss as most of his decisions have been. Of the 147 pardoned, about 60 of them which is over 40% are drug barons and those convicted of drug-related offences raising questions about the purpose of the exercise. 

Clearly, it is quite insensitive and reckless on the part of the president to approve the release of the drug barons and unleashing them again on the nation given the harmful effect of their ignoble activities. It is a fact that people in this category of crime do not change, therefore unleashing them to the nation is like official endorsement of crime. What example is the president setting for the youths of this nation? What message is he giving to the world about our country, Nigeria? It is like Tinubu is telling the youth that crime pays. This will further tarnish our image in the comity of nations. Many will see us now as a nation ruled by criminals. It is unfortunate!

For some time now many have been complaining about the romance of government officials with bandits and known terrorist. It is insinuated that terrorist are pardoned, given special recognition while civil advocates and real freedom agitators are incarcerated. The government security operatives have abandoned the theatres of war and ruffled peace in our communities by taking the battles to wrong places while bandits, insurgents and terrorists are given free rein.

There was another case of a lady Maryam Sanda who was convicted in 2020 for wilfully murdering and butchering her husband that was released because it said that she is politically connected. This is like making mockery of our justice system. Executive decisions affect millions of Nigerians; they reference points and should be done with caution. Tinubu is making the nation Nigeria a joke by making questionable decisions. It is as if he does not care about the consequences of his decisions and actions.

When in 2013, the then president, Goodluck Jonathan granted state pardon to DSP Alamieyeseigha, the former governor of Bayelsa State convicted of corruption, Tinubu and his group, including Wole Soyinka, Festus Keyamo, now the minister of Aviation and many others, then in opposition criticized it scathingly. But today, the same Tinubu is granting pardon not just to those convicted of corruption like Farouk Lawan but to hardened criminals and our hitherto known critics have remained taciturn. This is hypocrisy exemplified.

Hajia Hadiza Mohammed 

hajiahadizamohammed@gmail.com 

An actress, social activist, politician 

London, UK