Former Minister of Sports and Comrade General of the Movement for the Emancipation of Nigeria, Solomon Dalung, has urged the federal government to grant a presidential pardon to Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari, describing his ongoing detention and prosecution as a travesty of justice.
In a statement released on Monday, Dalung expressed concern that Kyari remains in custody even after the government granted presidential pardons to individuals convicted of drug trafficking, fraud, kidnapping, and banditry. He said this situation represents a serious injustice and a mockery of fairness, arguing that it is morally wrong to continue detaining an officer whose only offense was his patriotic commitment to fighting the same crimes now being rewarded by the state.
Dalung stated that the recent wave of clemency and amnesty for notorious criminals has eroded the moral and legal justification for Kyari’s continued detention. He added that the ongoing prosecution reflects double standards that weaken public confidence in Nigeria’s justice system.
“True justice requires consistency, and fairness dictates that mercy should not favor the guilty while punishment persists for the just.”
The former minister appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Attorney-General of the Federation to withdraw all charges against Kyari and ensure his immediate release, emphasizing that doing so would promote fairness, national healing, and reconciliation. He warned that failing to act would “set a dangerous precedent” and discourage public officers from showing dedication in the fight against crime.