Human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), has criticised the recent presidential pardon saga, describing the exercise as embarrassing and poorly handled.
The controversy over the presidential pardon began in October when President Bola Tinubu approved clemency for 175 inmates under the constitutional prerogative of mercy.
The list, reportedly compiled by the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy, included some individuals convicted of serious crimes such as kidnapping, drug-related offences, human trafficking and unlawful possession of firearms.
The move sparked nationwide outrage, with legal practitioners, civil society groups, and anti-corruption advocates accusing the administration of undermining the rule of law and its own anti-corruption drive.
In response to the criticism, the Federal Government announced a review of the list, saying the process that produced the initial compilation was flawed.
Following the review, Tinubu revoked the pardon of about 140 beneficiaries.
The Presidency later explained that the revised list reflected a commitment to due process and accountability, saying the move demonstrated the government’s willingness to correct errors.
Speaking in an interview on Arise TV on Friday, Falana said the country was exposed to ridicule due to the inclusion of undeserving individuals on the list, some of whom had been recently convicted of serious offences.
According to him, the pardon process was flawed from the outset as it violated constitutional provisions guiding the exercise of such powers.
“It is not the first time that this exercise has been mishandled, but this time around, the country was exposed to odium, and there was no basis for it. Those who were not deserving of pardon were recommended for pardon,” he said.
He cited the case of an individual prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for 11 years and convicted in April 2025, yet whose name appeared on the list.
Falana added that several persons convicted under state laws were also included, contrary to Section 212 of the Constitution, which vests the power to pardon such offenders in state governors.
“By virtue of Section 212 of the Constitution, only the governor of a state can pardon people convicted for stealing, obtaining by false pretence, murder or culpable homicide. But all those names were there,” he said.
He faulted the Federal Government’s explanation that the list had been reviewed and reduced from about 175 names to 35, insisting that the issue went beyond trimming numbers.
“It is not enough to say we have reviewed the list and reduced it. The government owes itself a duty to ensure that such colossal embarrassment does not occur again,” he stated.
Falana called on the Attorney-General of the Federation to publicly apologise to Nigerians over what he described as a national embarrassment.
“The very least the Attorney-General can do is to apologise. It is not done that way,” he added.
