Primate Ayodele Slams Tinubu’s Pardons, Demands Justice for Abba Kanu

Primate Elijah Babatunde Ayodele has strongly criticized President Tinubu’s recent decision to pardon dozens of convicted criminals—including drug offenders, fraudsters, and illegal miners. He described the move as a grave setback for Nigeria’s anti-drug campaign and a direct affront to justice and morality.

Ayodele argued that the pardons undermine the efforts of security agencies, labeling them a waste of resources spent on arresting and prosecuting offenders. He warned that these pardoned individuals will likely return to criminality, adding strain to an already fragile security situation.

He also drew attention to the case of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of IPOB, asking why Kanu remains in detention despite the ease with which other convicts were pardoned. The cleric challenged the president to explain this discrepancy and show that the rule of law is applied fairly to all.