Adeyanju Slams Governors Over Pardons to Terrorists Says They Lack Constitutional Authority

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Prominent Nigerian activist and lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, has criticized certain state governors for granting pardons to criminals, particularly terrorists.

In a statement released on Thursday, the Abuja-based lawyer argued that governors do not possess the constitutional authority to pardon terrorists as part of non-kinetic measures aimed at tackling the nation’s escalating security challenges.

Adeyanju’s comments come amid growing insecurity across several states, notably in the North-West, North-East, and North-Central regions, where banditry, mass kidnappings, and terrorist attacks continue despite ongoing military operations.

In response to the worsening security situation, some state governments have adopted strategies involving dialogue, negotiation, and amnesty programs, offering pardons, financial incentives, and rehabilitation packages to armed groups in exchange for laying down their weapons.

States such as Zamfara, Katsina, Kaduna, and Niger have reportedly explored or implemented some form of amnesty or negotiated settlements with bandit groups, often justifying the measures as pragmatic responses to overstretched security forces and the humanitarian consequences of prolonged violence.

However, Adeyanju cautioned that, regardless of policy debates, state governors lack constitutional authority to grant amnesty to terrorists.

“Under Section 212 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), a governor’s power of pardon is strictly limited to offences created by the laws of the state. Terrorism, however, is a federal offence governed by the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act and falls squarely under matters of national security listed on the exclusive legislative list,” he stated.