The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, has urged the Nigerian government to publish the full list of those granted state pardon.
CISLAC stated that there is a need to release the names of all of those who benefitted from the decisions of the government, as a way to foster transparency, while expressing worry over the implications of such pardon may be
“We find some of the names recommended by the Presidential Advisory Committee on the prerogative of mercy, headed by the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the federation, questionable and the mere fact that citizens cannot get the full list of over 150 persons pardoned shows a lack of transparency on the process”.
CISLAC also condemned the ‘trend’ of shielding politically exposed persons from accounting for their actions.
“Coupled with corruption allegations in the judicial system, this pardon shows how bad Nigeria’s anti-corruption effort is and it comes barely a week after the United States government released the “2021 Reports on Human Rights Practices in Nigeria” where it accused Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission of focusing on low and middle class government officials”
The group also noted that it hopes the processes and objectives of such Presidential pardon will be re-examined and made transparent to avoid setting a bad precedent, especially as the nation moves towards political transition in the 2023 general elections.
The decision of the Council of state to pardon 159 persons had stirred controversies, especially with the pardon extended to Jolly Nyame of Taraba state and Senator Joshua Dariye of Plateau state.
The Nigerian Human Rights Writers Association (HURIWA), also condemned the move, noting that Nigeria has failed to tackle corruption in the real sense and the release of these persons only confirms such suspicion.
Human Rights activist and Lawyer, Femi Falana had also knocked the federal government’s pardons, noting that such decisions would force calling on the government to pardon all thieves in the country’s prison.
“ All criminals, all thieves and criminals in our prisons should be released.”, he noted while stating that section 17 of the constitution says there shall be equality, equal rights for all citizens and section 42 said there shall be no discrimination on the basis of class, gender, whatever and due to this, it is illegal to pardon just two persons and leave the rest.
Nigeria has been battling with corruption for many years, many say these pardons will further strengthen corruption in Nigeria.