Our Reporter, New York
Political commentator, Dr. Peter Anosike, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to sack the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Chief Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), for allegedly misleading him into granting a presidential pardon to undeserving convicts.
Anosike made the call during an exclusive interview with Rudolf Okonkwo on 90MinutesAfrica.
The recent clemency granted by President Tinubu to several individuals convicted of various crimes sparked widespread outrage among Nigerians, prompting the president to reverse some of the pardons. Among those initially listed for clemency were individuals convicted of drug trafficking, murder, kidnapping, and other grievous offenses.
Anosike faulted the Attorney General for failing in his duty as Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy, which is responsible for screening and recommending names for presidential pardon.
“There is no way President Tinubu could know everyone on the list,” he said.
“The Attorney General has the responsibility to vet the list and ensure that everyone on it deserves clemency. He misled the president into signing, and the president later had to reverse himself, making him look weak and unserious.”
The social commentator argued that many of those included in the list did not deserve any form of pardon. Citing the case of a certain Kelvin, who was convicted of kidnapping, he questioned the rationale behind including such individuals among those granted clemency.
“Again, over 40 percent of those pardoned were hard drug dealers. This sends the wrong message and demoralises NDLEA officers who worked hard to ensure those criminals were brought to justice,” he said.
Speaking further, the bestselling author lamented the worsening living conditions in Nigeria, saying citizens now live in fear.
“We are living like prisoners of war. Freedom of speech no longer exists in this country,” he stated.
Anosike, author of the Wall Street Journal bestselling book, “Dangote’s Ten Commandments on Money,” also criticised the Nigerian mainstream media for failing to hold the government accountable, accusing them of compromise.
“President Tinubu has held meetings on three occasions with the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria. You should understand what that means,” he remarked.
He further narrated how he once submitted a story to a newspaper editor, only to be told that the paper’s owner had instructed staff not to publish any story critical of the president.
