Extend Presidential pardon to Abba Kyari – Int Human Rights Commission tells Tinubu

Extend Presidential pardon to Abba Kyari – Int Human Rights Commission tells Tinubu

The International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) office in Nigeria has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to grant a presidential pardon to the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari.

The commission cited national security as the reason for the request, given the country’s rising insecurity.

The appeal was detailed in a statement released on Friday by the IHRC’s Head of Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria, Duru Hezekiah.

Hezekiah called for a national dialogue on the matter to build public and stakeholder support for a “strategic and conditional presidential pardon.”

While acknowledging and respecting the ongoing judicial proceedings against Kyari, the IHRC clarified that its request is not an attempt to influence the courts.

Instead, it aims to seek a consideration for the country’s “strategic national interests.”

“Our position is not to circumvent justice or interfere with legal processes. Rather, we urge a future-focused, constitutionally grounded approach that recognises the tactical value of experienced security personnel—if found eligible under the law and subject to public accountability,” the statement read.

The IHRC suggested that a conditional clemency could be an option, referencing Section 175 of the 1999 Constitution, which grants the President the power to issue pardons. The commission provided international examples of a similar approach.

“Globally, there are precedents where convicted individuals with valuable operational expertise have been reintegrated into national service through conditional frameworks—under strict legal and ethical oversight. In the United States, law enforcement agencies have regularly offered plea bargains or deferred sentencing in exchange for intelligence or cooperation. Former hackers have been recruited by governments to assist in cybersecurity defences. In post-conflict African states, ex-warlords have been granted conditional amnesties to enable peace and stability,” the IHRC added.

The commission emphasized that this conditional clemency should be viewed as a “pragmatic tool of national security strategy” rather than as forgiveness.

It suggested that Kyari, with his “proven tactical and intelligence capabilities,” could be a “rehabilitated asset” in Nigeria’s fight against crime.

The IHRC concluded by urging stakeholders, including civil society and legal experts, to engage in a constructive dialogue on how to balance justice with national resilience.

“Let this be a defining moment where justice, constitutionality, and national interest align to restore peace and confidence in our security architecture. We are not advocating impunity. We propose a rehabilitative, oversight-driven reintegration process that prioritises public interest and national security—particularly if trial timing renders conventional justice measures impractical.”

The commission called this a “strategic statecraft, not political favouritism,” and argued that “If used wisely, conditional clemency can serve as a bridge between law enforcement accountability and long-term peacebuilding.”

Abba Kyari, who was once celebrated as a top anti-crime officer, is currently on trial for a cocaine trafficking case and faces charges from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.