According to a report by Daily Post on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, barrister Kenneth Okonkwo, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has criticized the recent presidential pardon granted to convicts in the country.
The Nollywood veteran-turned-politician expressed concern over what he described as a growing culture of systemic corruption affecting the nation.
His remarks were made during a television programme on Channels Television, where he discussed the implications of the pardons.
Okonkwo highlighted that the pardon, which included several inmates such as Maryam Sanda, sentenced to death for killing her husband, raises questions about accountability in the justice system.
He emphasized that such actions contribute to the perception that crimes can go unpunished, undermining public trust in legal institutions.
According to the ADC chieftain, corruption has become systemic because there is little or no deterrence for criminal acts.
He argued that when corruption is widespread and unchecked, efforts to fight it are often met with resistance and personal risk.
This, he said, creates an environment where impunity thrives, and governance suffers.
Okonkwo also warned that repeated instances of clemency for serious crimes could erode public confidence in the rule of law.
He stressed that while the justice system should allow for rehabilitation, it must also ensure that punishment serves as a deterrent to prevent future crimes.
The balance between mercy and accountability, he noted, is crucial for maintaining societal order.
He said, “The truth is that what we are going through in Nigeria today is systemic corruption. It is systemic because there’s no deterrence. In a nation where corruption is not deterred, when you want to fight it, you are at a risk.”
The remarks by the ADC chieftain come amid ongoing debates about the role of presidential pardons and the broader issue of corruption in governance.
Okonkwo’s perspective adds to the discourse on how the nation addresses criminal justice, accountability, and the need to strengthen institutions to resist systemic corruption. See, More, Here>>>
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