Senator Dino Melaye has called on President Bola Tinubu to scrap the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) following the recent presidential pardon granted to convicted criminals.
The pardon included 70 drug lords, a move that has drawn strong criticism from the senator and other public figures.
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Melaye expressed outrage at the development, describing it as unprecedented and a total disregard for the efforts of the NDLEA since its inception.
In a post on his X page on Sunday, Melaye wrote, “Pardon granted 70 drug lords by President Tinubu is unprecedented in history.
“Checks have revealed that it has never happened in the history of the world.
“My advice to the President is to scrap the NDLEA.
“His action has made a beautiful nonsense of all the efforts of the agency since inception.”
The clemency, issued on Thursday on the recommendation of the Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy headed by Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, saw 175 individuals granted pardons.
The number of beneficiaries, according to Melaye, included 70 people convicted of drug-related offences, alongside murderers, fraudsters, and kidnappers.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar also condemned the exercise, arguing that the latest pardon has undermined national security.
“Ordinarily the power of Presidential pardon is a solemn prerogative, a moral and constitutional instrument designed to temper justice with mercy and to underscore the humanity of the State,” Atiku said.
“When properly exercised, it elevates justice and strengthens public faith in governance. Regrettably, the latest pardon issued by the Tinubu administration has done the very opposite.”
The Presidency, however, defended the decision, stating that the beneficiaries demonstrated good behavior, showed remorse, and improved their lives through education at the National Open University.
