Political commentator Dr. Peter Anosike has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to sack the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Chief Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), for misleading him into signing a pardon for undeserving criminals.
He made the call during an exclusive interview with Rudolf Okonkwo on 90MinutesAfrica.
The recent clemency granted by President Tinubu to some individuals convicted of varying crimes was met with massive outrage from Nigerians, leading him to reverse the pardon for some of the initial beneficiaries.
Among those on the initial list to enjoy the presidential pardon were individuals convicted of drug dealing, murder, kidnapping, and other grievous crimes.
Dr. Anosike stated that, as the chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy, the AGF has the responsibility to vet the names and advise the president accordingly, but failed to do so. “There is no way President Tinubu could know everyone on the list,” the journalist said.
“The Attorney General has the responsibility to vet the list to ensure that everyone on it was qualified for the pardon. He misled the president into signing, and the president had to reverse himself, making him look weak and unserious.”
He explained that many of the people on the list do not deserve a pardon. Citing the case of one Kelvin, who was convicted for kidnapping, the social commentator wondered about the rationale for including him on the list of those who deserved a pardon.
“Again, over 40% of those pardoned were hard drug dealers. This is sending a wrong message and also demoralises the men of the NDLEA who worked hard to ensure that those people were brought to justice,” he explained.
Speaking further, Dr. Anosike decried the conditions under which many Nigerians live. He said people are living in fear in the country. “We are living like prisoners of war. Freedom of speech no longer exists in the country,” he stated.
