Tinubu Grants Presidential Pardons To Macaulay, Vatsa, Farouk Lawan, Others

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has granted posthumous pardons to notable Nigerians, including nationalist Herbert Macaulay, former military officer Major General Mamman Jiya Vatsa, and the Ogoni Nine, as part of a broad exercise of presidential mercy endorsed by the National Council of State in Abuja.

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, disclosed this in a statement released on Thursday

The move also saw the President grant clemency to 82 inmates, reduce the prison terms of 65 others, and commute the death sentences of seven inmates to life imprisonment, acting on recommendations from the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy (PACPM).

READ ALSO: Nigeria’s 50-year Wait Ends, As Tinubu Unveils $400m Otakikpo Oil Terminal

Major General Vatsa, a celebrated poet and author, was executed in 1986 after being convicted of treason during the regime of General Ibrahim Babangida.

His pardon comes nearly 39 years after his death.

In a similar gesture, President Tinubu cleared the colonial-era conviction of Herbert Macaulay — Nigeria’s foremost nationalist and co-founder of the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) alongside Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe.

Recall that Macaulay was unjustly convicted by British colonial authorities in 1913 and banned from public service.

Although he died in 1946, the “stigma of being an ex-convict was not exorcised from his records until now,” the statement noted.

The President also extended pardons to former House of Representatives member, Farouk Lawan, Mrs Anastasia Daniel Nwaobia, Barrister Hussaini Umar, and Ayinla Saadu Alanamu, to enable their full reintegration into society “having demonstrated sufficient remorse.”

Others who benefited include Nweke Francis Chibueze, serving a life sentence for drug trafficking, and Dr Nwogu Peters, who had served 12 of a 17-year term for fraud.

A major highlight of the exercise was the posthumous pardon granted to the Ogoni Nine — including Ken Saro-Wiwa, Baribor Bera, Nordu Eawo, Saturday Dobee, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, John Kpuine, and Barinem Kiobel — who were executed in 1995 under the Abacha regime.

Tinubu also awarded national honours to the Ogoni Four — Chief Albert Badey, Chief Edward Kobani, Chief Samuel Orage, and Theophilus Orage — in recognition of their sacrifice.

Onanuga said the exercise was “in line with the President’s constitutional powers to show mercy and promote national reconciliation.”

The PACPM, chaired by Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), submitted its final report to the Council of State.

Other members include Chief Akinlolu Olujinmi (CON), Prof. Alkasum Abba, Prof. (Mrs.) Nike Y. Sidikat Ijaiya, Justice Augustine B. Utsaha, and the committee’s secretary, Dr Onwusoro Maduka.

Institutional representatives were drawn from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Correctional Service, National Human Rights Commission, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

The committee’s report stated: “A total of 175 inmates were interviewed, and 62 applications were received on behalf of 119 inmates considered by the committee, making it a total of 294.

“Eighty-two inmates were recommended for clemency; two for pardon; sixty-five inmates for reduction of their terms of imprisonment; and seven inmates on death row for commutation to life imprisonment. Fifteen ex-convicts were recommended for Presidential Pardon, eleven of them deceased (including the Ogoni Nine).”

It added that the recommendations were based on criteria such as old age (60 years and above), ill health, good conduct, long-term imprisonment, and evidence of rehabilitation.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, inaugurated the PACPM on January 15, 2025, as part of efforts to “promote justice, rehabilitation, and human rights in Nigeria.”

Onanuga said the presidential action “reflects the administration’s commitment to fairness, forgiveness, and national healing.”