Abba Kyari: Even As Trial Is Still On, Calls For Presidential Pardon Widen …IHRC Join

By Adesina Soyooye

The call for the discontinuation of the prosecution of suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP Abba Kyari, and the granting of pardon to him by President Bola Tinubu is widening.

Kyari, an accomplished crime fighter, celebrated and respected and adored by not a few Nigerians because of his, almost, mystical way of bursting even the most complicated and intricate crime cases, including kidnapping fell by the way side when, in 2022, he was, shockingly, implicated, allegedly, in a drug case by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, as a member of a drug syndicate.

Since then, he has been on suspension from work, and under prosecution.

But given the worsening and unprecedented insecurity in the country, especially, cases of kidnapping, the impression is that it may not have degenerated to this level, were Kyari and his boys still in the system.

Gradually, therefore, the call for the discontinuation of his prosecution, release from custody, and pardon by the President, has gradually, but steadily been on the increase.

The latest voice for his release and pardon is coming from the  International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) office Nigeria.

In a statement, the body is calling for a consolidation of the growing public call for a conditional presidential pardon for Kyari. It based its position on the rising threats to Nigeria’s internal security.

In a statement issued by H.E. Ambassador (Dr.) Duru Hezekiah, its Head of Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria, on Friday,

IHRC expressed its respect for the ongoing judicial proceedings against Kyari, and emphasized that its call was not aimed at influencing court decisions, but for  strategic national interests, especially if not feasible during the trial’s course.

It noted: “Our position is not to circumvent justice or interrupt legal processes.

Rather, we urge a future-focused, constitutionally grounded approach that recognizes the tactical value of experienced security personnel—if found eligible under law and subject to public accountability.”

It reaffirmed its commitment to justice and the rule of law, but proposed a conditional clemency, citing Section 175 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which empowers the President to grant pardons and reprieves.

It noted: “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.”

Such conditional clemency, it noted, is not forgiveness,  but a pragmatic tool of national security strategy, particularly when the individual involved has demonstrated proven tactical and intelligence capabilities that could aid national stability, if lawfully and transparently redeployed.

It noted:

“A conditional pardon for Kyari—subject to public accountability—could transform a controversial figure into a rehabilitated asset in Nigeria’s fight against crime.”

Urging President Bola Tinubu to use the powers granted him and pardon Kyari, the Commission said:

“Let this be a defining moment where justice, constitutionality and national interest align to restore peace and confidence in our security framework.

“We are not advocating impunity. We propose a rehabilitative, oversight-driven reintegration process prioritizing public interest and national security, particularly if trial timing is not feasible.

“This is a call for strategic statecraft, not political favoritism.

“In times of national crisis, justice must be redemptive as well as corrective.

“If used wisely, conditional clemency can serve as a bridge between law enforcement accountability and long-term peace building.”