Author(s): Ibiene Pamela Mbano, Osaretin George Izevb and Rita Abhavan Ngwoke

Abstract: This article critically examines the human rights implications of the pardon process in Nigeria, focusing on the systemic marginalization of petty offenders. Although the Nigerian Constitution empowers the executive to grant pardons, recent events reveal a trend of excessive focus on high-profile, political and economic upper-class class, often to the exclusion of low-level and indigent inmates. These inequities raise serious issues about equality before the law, access to justice, and the abuse of constitutional powers. Drawing on legal analysis, constitutional provisions, and comparative practices, the article highlights the invisibility of petty offenders in pardon considerations despite their vulnerability to harsh sentencing and prison overcrowding. The article advocates for a rights-based reform of the clemency system that prioritizes fairness, transparency, and the inclusion of marginalized groups. The paper concludes by proposing practical legal reforms to ensure that the pardon process serves both justice and social equity.

DOI: 10.22271/27899497.2025.v5.i2b.150

Pages: 98-103 | Views: 132 | Downloads: 82

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