President Bola Ahmed Tinubu don cancel the pardon wey he first give plenty people — including drug offenders, kidnappers, illegal miners and arms dealers — after Nigerians raise serious complaint say the move no make sense.
Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga announce the new decision for statement wey he drop on Wednesday.
Tinubu first grant pardon to about 175 people, but after public backlash, the President order make dem review the list again.
According to Onanuga, after consultation with the Council of State and hearing wetin Nigerians talk, the President direct say people wey commit heavy crimes like kidnapping, drug trafficking, human trafficking, fraud and illegal gun business must commot from the pardon list.
Some of the people wey dem first pardon before, their own sentence don just turn to lighter one (commuted), instead of full pardon.
Even with the review, the President still give clemency to 15 people, including former lawmaker Farouk Lawan, and he give posthumous pardon to late Herbert Macaulay, late Gen. Mamman Vatsa, and late Ken Saro-Wiwa.
Tinubu talk say he cancel the earlier list because the kind crime wey some of the people commit too serious and fit affect national security. He talk say justice no be only for the person wey offend but also for the victims and society as whole.
The President don also order say the Secretariat of the Prerogative of Mercy Committee go move from the Ministry of Special Duties go the Federal Ministry of Justice, to make the process more transparent.
He also tell the Attorney-General of the Federation to create new rules wey go make sure any future pardon must pass through proper checks and consultation with security and prosecution agencies.
Tinubu thank Nigerians for the feedback and promise say him government go continue to reform justice system and maintain fairness for all citizens.
