Daud Olatunji
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his successor, Muhammadu Buhari, have clashed over the controversial state pardon granted to two convicted former governors in 2022, reigniting debates on corruption and governance in Nigeria.
Obasanjo, in his newly released book Nigeria: Past and Future, accused Buhari of enabling corruption during his tenure, particularly through the pardon of Joshua Dariye, a former governor of Plateau State, and Jolly Nyame, a former governor of Taraba State.
The two former governors had been convicted of massive fraud, with Nyame serving a 12-year jail term for diverting N1.64 billion, while Dariye was sentenced to 10 years for misappropriating N1.126 billion.
Obasanjo alleged that the presidential pardon was a product of corruption and manipulation, stating that Abubakar Malami, the then-Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, orchestrated the move for personal gain.
He described Malami as a “devil’s workshop” who advised Buhari to grant clemency under questionable circumstances.
“The most atrocious waste, the entrenchment of corruption, and the suppression of officials fighting it occurred under President Buhari’s watch and his attorney general, Abubakar Malami, whom he turned into a devil’s workshop,” Obasanjo wrote.
According to Obasanjo, the justification that Dariye and Nyame were pardoned on health and age grounds was deceptive, as they were “not actually terminally ill, as initially claimed.”
He argued that the move undermined Nigeria’s anti-corruption fight and emboldened corrupt politicians.
At the time, the pardon sparked nationwide controversy, with critics arguing that it weakened the credibility of anti-corruption efforts.
Many believed that the decision sent a message of impunity to public officials involved in financial crimes.
In response, Malami dismissed Obasanjo’s allegations, insisting that the 2022 state pardon followed due process and was not politically motivated.
He clarified that his role was limited to presenting the report of the prerogative of mercy committee to the Council of State, which approved the pardons.
“Generally speaking, the issue of pardon is a legal matter governed by law and existing legislation, in which a committee on the prerogative of mercy—not the attorney-general—is responsible,” Malami told The Punch.
He described Obasanjo’s allegations as “wild and unsubstantiated,” emphasizing that any claims of corruption should be backed by concrete evidence.
“The responsibility for actions and inactions associated with the committee’s recommendations lies with the committee, not the attorney-general,” Malami said.
Malami also defended Buhari’s anti-corruption record, arguing that the administration took decisive actions to curb graft, despite the criticisms it faced.
He maintained that the decision to pardon the convicted governors was in line with legal procedures and not an act of favoritism.
While Buhari’s camp maintains that the 2022 pardons were legally sound, Obasanjo’s claims have intensified scrutiny on the former administration’s handling of corruption cases, raising concerns over the effectiveness of Nigeria’s anti-corruption framework.
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