IHRC urges Tinubu to consider Abba Kyari for presidential pardon

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

In a statement issued on Friday in Abuja, the Head of the IHRC’s Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria, Duru Hezekiah, said the appeal was made in view of the country’s worsening security challenges, including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, and other forms of organised crime.

Hezekiah stated that the call was not an attempt to undermine ongoing legal proceedings against Kyari, who is currently being prosecuted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over alleged involvement in a drug trafficking case. Rather, the commission proposed that Nigeria consider a “strategic and conditional” pardon that takes into account the former officer’s operational experience in combating crime.

“Our position is not to circumvent justice or interfere with legal processes,” the statement read. “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 commission cited Section 175 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which grants the President the authority to issue pardons, reprieves, and clemency under certain conditions. It also referenced international precedents, such as instances where convicted individuals have been reintegrated into national service under legal and ethical oversight.

The statement pointed to cases in the United States, where former hackers have been recruited for cybersecurity defence, and in African countries where conditional amnesty has been used as part of post-conflict peacebuilding.

Hezekiah said a conditional pardon for Kyari could serve as a “pragmatic tool” of national security, potentially transforming him from a controversial figure into a rehabilitated contributor to crime-fighting efforts. “This is not about impunity,” the statement added, “but about exploring constitutionally permissible options that prioritise national security, public interest, and accountability.”

The commission also called for a broader national dialogue involving civil society groups, legal experts, human rights advocates, and security policymakers to explore how Nigeria might harmonise justice with national resilience.

“This is a call for strategic statecraft, not political favouritism,” the statement said. “In times of national crisis, justice must be both redemptive and corrective. If used wisely, conditional clemency can serve as a bridge between law enforcement accountability and long-term peacebuilding.”

Abba Kyari was widely known for his leadership in major anti-kidnapping and counterterrorism operations before his suspension in 2022 following allegations of involvement in a cocaine trafficking conspiracy. His trial is ongoing.