IHRC Calls For Presidential Pardon For Abba Kyari Over National Security Concerns

The International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) in Nigeria has urged President Bola Tinubu to consider granting a conditional presidential pardon to suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, citing rising internal security threats and the officer’s past contributions to crime-fighting.

In a statement released Friday by its Head of Diplomatic Mission, Ambassador Dr. Duru Hezekiah, the IHRC clarified that it was not attempting to interfere with ongoing judicial proceedings. Instead, it called for a national dialogue on the possibility of clemency, based on strategic national interest and constitutional authority.

The group pointed to Section 175 of the 1999 Constitution, which gives the president the power to grant pardons and reprieves. It argued that other countries have adopted similar approaches by conditionally reintegrating convicted individuals with tactical expertise into national service under strict oversight.

Examples cited included plea bargains in the U.S. for intelligence cooperation, government recruitment of former hackers for cybersecurity roles, and peace deals in post-conflict African states where ex-warlords received conditional amnesty.

The commission said Kyari could serve Nigeria again under a controlled framework that balances justice with national security needs.

“This is not about forgiveness or impunity,” the statement read. “It is about transforming a controversial figure into a rehabilitated asset through accountability, transparency and legal compliance.”

The IHRC described Kyari as one of Nigeria’s most decorated crime fighters before his 2022 suspension and ongoing prosecution over drug-related allegations. It acknowledged the seriousness of the charges but insisted that conversations around justice must also account for national resilience.

The commission called on civil society, legal experts, human rights advocates and security policymakers to join a broader dialogue on harmonizing justice with security strategy.

It said President Tinubu is in a unique position to make a bold decision that aligns the law with Nigeria’s long-term peace and stability.