Falana Demands Apology from Minister of Justice over Pardon List Controversy

Strategic Insights -

The controversy surrounding the pardon list released by the presidency has sparked outrage across the country, with many criticizing the Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, for mishandling the exercise. Human Rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has joined the chorus of voices demanding an apology from Fagbemi for the embarrassment caused by the list. The list, which was initially released in October, granted clemency to convicts serving death sentences or life imprisonment for serious offences, sparking concerns about the abuse of presidential power and the weakening of public faith in the criminal-justice system.

Key Takeaways:

  • The controversy surrounding the pardon list was triggered by the inclusion of convicts serving life imprisonment and death sentences for serious offences, such as murder, drug trafficking, and illegal mining.
  • The Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, was criticized for mishandling the exercise, with some accusing him of abusing the presidential power of mercy.
  • Femi Falana, a Human Rights lawyer, has demanded an apology from Fagbemi for the embarrassment caused by the list.
  • Falana argues that the government owes itself a duty to ensure that such monumental errors do not occur again and that the only way to do that is to take actions to teach some lessons and apologize for the embarrassment.
  • The pardon list was initially released in October, but after backlash, Fagbemi said the list was under review, and some persons were dropped from the list, while the death sentence of some was commuted.
  • Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, National Publicity Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), had also commented on the development, describing it as an abuse of the presidential power of mercy and a national disgrace.
  • Various human rights groups and associations has also commented on the development, highlighting the need for accountability and transparency.

Statistics:

  • None

Sources:

  • Daily Trust, October [no date specified], "Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy"
  • ARISE TV interview, [no date specified], Femi Falana, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN)
  • Section 212 of the Nigerian Constitution