Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong has praised the review of the presidential pardon list but questioned why the initial names were made public without proper scrutiny.
Effiong made the remarks on Thursday in an interview, suggesting that some names on the original list may have been deliberately included, or that President Bola Tinubu’s advisers failed in their duties.
“To some extent, to his credit, it was good that the list has been reviewed. The initial list was an embarrassment; it dented not only the country’s image but also the credibility of the government,” Effiong said.
He added, “When some of us publicly distanced ourselves from the list and criticised the names that appeared, we expected corrective action to follow.”
President Tinubu reviewed the initial list following widespread backlash over the inclusion of individuals convicted of serious offences such as kidnapping, drug-related crimes, human trafficking, and fraud.
“This review became necessary given the severity and security implications of some offences, the need to respect victims’ feelings, boost the morale of law enforcement agencies, and comply with bilateral obligations,” presidential aide Bayo Onanuga said in a Wednesday statement.
He added, “The concept of justice as a three-way traffic—considering the Accused, the Victim, and the State/Society—also guided the review.”
However, Effiong criticised the release of the original list, suggesting it could have been intentional.
“While it is commendable that the President adjusted the list, we must ask legitimate questions about how such decisions are made by this government,” he said.
“What this indicates is either that the initial list was deliberately designed to signal the President’s priorities regarding pardons, or that those responsible for advising him were either compromised or grossly incompetent,” Effiong added.
