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Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Policy Communication in the South-East, Josef Onoh, has called on his principal t to revoke the recent pardon granted to Maryam Sanda and some convicted drug traffickers.
Last week, Tinubu approved the recommendations of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, granting clemency to 175 individuals, including capital offenders, drug convicts, and foreigners.
Among the beneficiaries was Sanda, who was convicted in 2020 for killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, during a domestic dispute.
Others included drug offenders such as Nweke Francis Chibueze, serving a life sentence for cocaine trafficking, and Isaac Justina, whose conviction for cannabis possession was reduced.
In a statement on Sunday, Onoh said it was “morally wrong” to extend mercy to such offenders, describing it as a “rape of justice” that could damage Nigeria’s international reputation.
He said the decision contradicted the principles of the rule of law enshrined in the 1999 constitution and international norms like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
He stated: “This act, while constitutionally permissible, contravenes the moral imperatives of retributive justice and restorative equity.
“It inflicts psychological trauma on victims’ families, perpetuates systemic injustice, and erodes the deterrence mechanisms essential for societal stability.”
He argued that pardoning Sanda “undermines the intrinsic value of human life and the principle of accountability,” while granting clemency to drug traffickers “signals a moral abdication that normalises predation on society’s most fragile members.”
“Nationally, this portrays Nigeria as a haven for impunity and deters foreign investment in a country already battling reputational deficits from corruption.
“Internationally, it undermines Nigeria’s credibility with institutions like the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, which has commended the country’s anti-narcotics efforts,” he stated.
Onoh said the decision could also demoralise security operatives, including NDLEA agents and police officers who risked their lives to bring the convicts to justice.
He urged President Tinubu to reverse the pardons for Sanda and the convicted drug dealers through a transparent review process to “restore equity, heal national conscience, and safeguard Nigeria’s global image.”
“The reversal would not just be a correction but a moral imperative for a just federation,” he said.
