International Human Rights Commission Urges Presidential Pardon for Abba Kyari Amid Insecurity Concerns

The International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) office in Nigeria has made a significant appeal to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to grant a presidential pardon to the suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari. The commission asserts that such a move, though conditional, would be in the paramount interest of national security, given the escalating wave of insecurity across the country.

The call for clemency was articulated in a statement issued on Friday, August 1, 2025, by Duru Hezekiah, the Head of Diplomatic Mission of the IHRC in Nigeria, and made available to journalists in Abuja. Hezekiah emphasized that the appeal has become imperative due to the alarming rise in terrorism, kidnapping, organized crime, and armed banditry plaguing the nation.

The IHRC highlighted Kyari’s “proven tactical and intelligence capabilities,” suggesting that a conditional pardon, subject to public accountability, could transform the controversial figure into a rehabilitated asset in Nigeria’s ongoing fight against crime. “Our position is not to circumvent justice or interfere with legal processes. 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 statement read.

While affirming its respect for the ongoing judicial proceedings against Kyari, the commission clarified that its appeal is not aimed at influencing court decisions but rather at seeking consideration for the country’s strategic national interests, particularly if conventional justice measures prove impractical during the course of the trial. The IHRC cited Section 175 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which empowers the President to grant pardons and reprieves, as a constitutional basis for their plea. They also pointed to global precedents where individuals with valuable operational expertise, even if previously convicted, have been reintegrated into national service through conditional frameworks under strict legal and ethical oversight.

Abba Kyari, once celebrated as a “supercop” for his role in combating various high-profile criminal cases, fell from grace following his indictment in a US investigation related to international fraudster Ramon Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi. Subsequently, he was arrested and charged by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in 2022 for alleged involvement in a cocaine trafficking case and tampering with evidence. Although he was granted conditional bail in May 2024 to attend his mother’s burial, his trial remains ongoing, with a Federal High Court in April 2025 dismissing his “no-case” submission and ordering him to open his defence on all five charges. He remains suspended from the Nigeria Police Force.

The IHRC further called for a national dialogue on the matter, seeking to consolidate public and stakeholder support for a strategic and conditional presidential pardon for Kyari. The commission stressed that such conditional clemency should be viewed as a pragmatic tool of national security strategy, rather than mere forgiveness, especially when the individual involved possesses capabilities that could enhance national stability if lawfully and transparently redeployed.