Amnesty International has expressed deep concern over the recent clemency and pardons granted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to individuals convicted of human rights crimes, warning that such actions could entrench impunity and deny justice to victims.
In a statement issued on Monday, the global human rights organisation said the decision appeared to prioritise perpetrators over victims, undermining the rule of law and obstructing access to justice and reparations for affected families.
“The way and manner the Nigerian authorities carried out the exercise seemed to prioritise the perpetrators instead of access to justice and effective remedies for the victims and their families,” Amnesty International stated.
The organisation cautioned that the government’s actions risk weakening accountability mechanisms, preventing the emergence of truth, and obstructing judicial determinations of guilt or innocence.
“These pardons have the potential to undermine the rule of law, prevent reparations for victims, and reinforce a culture of impunity for human rights violations,” the statement added.
Amnesty International called on President Tinubu to reconsider the pardons and to ensure that the rights of victims and their families remain central to Nigeria’s justice and reconciliation efforts.
