Falana Slams Tinubu’s Pardon List as “Embarrassing” and Calls for Apology

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has described the recent presidential pardon exercise as an embarrassment to Nigeria, faulting the process as unconstitutional and poorly managed.

Speaking on Arise Television on Friday, Falana said the inclusion of undeserving individuals, including persons recently convicted of serious crimes, exposed the country to ridicule.

“It is not the first time this exercise has been mishandled, but this time around, the country was exposed to odium. Those who were not deserving of pardon were recommended for pardon,” he said.

Falana pointed out a case where an individual prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for 11 years and convicted in April 2025 still appeared on the pardon list.

He further criticized the decision to include individuals convicted under state laws, arguing that such actions violate Section 212 of the Nigerian Constitution, which gives state governors—not the president—the power to pardon those offenders.

“By virtue of Section 212, only the governor of a state can pardon people convicted for offences like stealing, obtaining by false pretence, murder, or culpable homicide. But all those names were there,” he stated.

Reacting to reports that the list had been reviewed from about 175 to 35 names, Falana said the issue went beyond numbers. “It is not enough to say we have reviewed the list and reduced it. The government owes itself a duty to ensure such colossal embarrassment does not happen again.”

He urged the Attorney-General of the Federation to apologise publicly to Nigerians over what he called a “national disgrace.”

“The very least the Attorney-General can do is to apologise. It is not done that way,” Falana insisted.