Zakar Mohammed Critiques Reversal of Presidential Pardon as Embarrassment

Former member of the House of Representatives and political analyst, Zakar Mohammed, has publicly condemned the recent reversal of President Bola Tinubu’s pardon list, calling it a “national embarrassment.” In an interview broadcast on ARISE News on Thursday, he criticized the decision-making process surrounding the pardon as politically compromised and poorly managed.

Mohammed’s assessment highlights serious flaws within the inner workings of the Nigerian presidency. He stated, “It’s embarrassing. It’s a national embarrassment, because in history, even with the military heads of state, I don’t think this has happened.” According to him, the situation reflects a lack of due diligence in the review and approval of the pardon list, suggesting that those entrusted with responsibilities must possess the capability to manage significant documents and decisions.

The former lawmaker argued that the initial compilation of the pardon list should have undergone multiple layers of scrutiny before reaching the President. “Before this list gets to Mr. President, there should be another layer that sieves it. Nigeria is blessed with very intelligent people who can look at it,” he explained. He also emphasized the role of the Attorney General in this process, expressing respect for the position but noting that the current situation should be professionally embarrassing for the office.

He referenced Section 175 (1–2) of the 1999 Constitution, which grants the President the power to grant pardons but does not allow for the reversal of such actions once completed. “The court held that whatever is said under that law is final and irrevocable — unless it was procured by deceit or force,” he explained, citing the case of Atiku Abubakar v. Federal Government (2007). Mohammed pointed out that similar practices in countries like the United Kingdom and United States support his interpretation that pardons, once granted, cannot be undone.

He also mentioned the controversial pardons issued by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2013, specifically the case of Major Hamza Al-Mustapha, which faced public backlash but was not reversed due to legal limitations. “Jonathan gave pardon to Al-Mustapha and Alamieyeseigha. There was a huge outcry, but he couldn’t revisit it because he knew the law did not permit that,” he noted.

Mohammed criticized the current administration’s decision-making process, suggesting that the pardon list had become politicized. “I can tell you from where I’m sitting that the list has been politicised. The Attorney General wouldn’t openly tell Nigerians what is going on, but you could see he was being very careful with his words,” he said. He asserted that the list should have undergone proper vetting before its release.

The former representative raised concerns over the administration’s prioritization of public pressure, questioning why the President was willing to reverse the pardon list in response to public outcry, while broader economic issues, such as the removal of fuel subsidies, remain unaddressed. “If the President listens, why didn’t he revisit the matter of subsidy? Everyone knows subsidy must go, but it should have been done in phases — you don’t perform three operations on a patient at once,” he argued.

In conclusion, Mohammed stated that the reversal not only poses legal questions but also undermines the integrity of governance in Nigeria. “It took public outcry for the revisit to happen, but even that revisit is not within the law. Once a pardon is announced, the process is completed. It’s irreversible unless obtained by deceit. The Council of State should have been fully involved,” he said.

The comments from Zakar Mohammed underscore a growing sentiment regarding the governance challenges facing Nigeria under President Tinubu’s administration.