Tinubu's Presidential pardon explained

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Transcript

00:00In every democracy comes power, but not just power alone, but the ability to forgive others

00:05for their wrongdoings. In Nigeria, this power is referred to as the presidential prerogative

00:11of mercy, a constitutional right granted to the president to forgive and condone convicts

00:17for their wrongdoing. In October this year, President Bola Hamed Sinumbu granted 175

00:23convicts presidential pardon. While this has attracted a mixed range of emotion from compassion,

00:29others are suspecting the motive behind this move.

00:33What is presidential pardon? Who are those eligible for this? And why has this one generated

00:38so much reaction? Let's find out.

00:41Under Section 175 of the Nigeria's constitution, the president has the power to grant pardons,

00:47produce sentences, or commute death penalties after consulting the Council of States. To

00:54simply put, the presidential pardon is an act of mercy, a chance to forgive, free, or give

01:01a second chance. But not everyone qualifies, as an advisory committee reviews each case based

01:08on age, health, remorse, or good behaviour. Over time, this power has sparked controversy.

01:16From good luck Jonathan's pardon of Dipriye Alameshega to Bwari's release of Joshua Dariye and Jolly

01:22Inyame, many Nigerians have questioned whether mercy sometimes undermines justice. Now under

01:30President Bola Hamed Sinumbu, that debate has returned. It granted clemency to 175 inmates,

01:39holding full pardons, sentence reductions, and commuted death penalties. Even national heroes

01:45like Herbert Macaulay, Ken Sarawiwa, and Maman Vatsa received posthumous pardons, a move the

01:53presidency calls an act of healing and unity. According to official records, 82 inmates received

02:00full pardons, 65 had their sentences reduced, and 7 death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment.

02:08However, critics are of the opinion that repeated pardons for the powerful, working the fight

02:15against corruption, and blur the line between compassion and compromise.

02:20At the heart of this debate lies even a more deeper question. How should a nation balance

02:27justice with forgiveness? Legal experts say Nigeria must make the process more transparent,

02:34so that mercy remains not only noble but fair.

02:37Let's finish .

02:38In fact, let's fail!

02:40Transcription by CastingWords