The family of slain environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa has firmly rejected the presidential pardon recently granted to the Ogoni Nine by President Bola Tinubu, demanding full exoneration instead.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Harry Wiwa, Ken’s brother, dismissed the pardon, arguing that Saro-Wiwa and his fellow Ogoni activists committed no crime and should never have been convicted. He called for a retrial to clear their names and restore their dignity in full.
“The pardon implies guilt,” Harry Wiwa said. “We seek justice, not mercy. What we demand is exoneration.”
The Ogoni Nine were executed in 1995 under the military regime of Sani Abacha after a controversial trial that drew widespread international condemnation. The group had been advocating for environmental justice in Nigeria’s oil-rich Niger Delta.
Among others granted clemency was Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced to death in 2020 for the murder of her husband. Her family had appealed for leniency, citing her remorse and the welfare of her two young children.
The decision has ignited backlash from several quarters. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar strongly criticized the pardon list, calling it “reckless and dangerous.” In a public statement, Atiku warned that pardoning individuals convicted of crimes like drug trafficking, kidnapping, and murder undermines justice and public trust, especially amid worsening insecurity and rising drug abuse in Nigeria.
He further criticized the President’s judgment, noting that such decisions risk signaling state complicity. Atiku also referenced long-standing, unresolved drug allegations against Tinubu during his time in the U.S., stating, “Clemency should not be mistaken for complicity.”
The presidency has yet to formally respond to the criticisms or clarify the criteria used in selecting those granted pardon.
