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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).
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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.”
Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged Nigerians to celebrate President Bola Tinubu, saying his leadership saved the country from a potential implosion.
Shettima said Nigeria’s economy had been teetering on the edge of collapse before Tinubu’s intervention, adding that the country could have faced a different situation.
“The economy was teetering on the edge of collapse, we were on a cliff edge,” the Vice President said.
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“So he literally saved the nation from an implosion. That could have been the scenario. So, instead of demonizing him, Nigerians ought to celebrate this poor man.”
Shettima also called for a return to the drawing board, expressing confidence in the leadership’s commitment and the prospects for the 2027 elections.
“I believe on the bottom of my heart that with this presentation I have seen, and with the commitment of our leadership, by the grace of God, we are going to win,” he said.
Speaking about the 2027 elections, the Vice President reminded his audience that social media platforms should not be mistaken for actual polling stations.
“There are no polling stations on Facebook or Instagram,” he said.
Shettima also expressed gratitude for the efforts made towards promoting the cause of the 2027 elections.
Following observed mis-steps, the Federal Government of Nigeria has withdrawn the eight-count criminal charge brought against the alleged fake Director General (DG) of the Presidential Foreign Intervention Promotion Council (PFIPC), Adeniyi Adeyemi.
Biztellers reports that the matter, in accordance with the counsel of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, (SAN), the matter will be filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), instead of the Federal High Court (FHC).
Consequently, upon an unopposed application for termination by the prosecution counsel and Director of the Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF), Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN), on Monday, Justice Mohammed Umar of a Federal High Court, Abuja on Monday, struck out the matter.
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In a motion for the termination of the charges, Oyedepo informed the court that the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice has carried out a review of the case file of Adeyemi and the charge filed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and found some loopholes.
The DPPF added that the documents allegedly forged by Adeyemi during his operations of the fake agency are those that can be prosecuted by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
He also informed the court that a new charge has been filed at the High Court of the FCT and that Adeyemi would be expeditiously arraigned afresh.
He therefore urged the judge to strike out the charge as required by law.
Following no objections from Ibrahim Angulu (SAN), who stood in for Adeyemi, Justice Umar subsequently terminated the charge.
Adeniyi, 38, was being tried alongside two others whose whereabouts are unknown, on charges bordering on conspiracy and forgery.
The two others said to be at large were identified as Femi (surname unknown) and Anu (surname unknown).
The charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/25/2025, was entered against the defendant by the DPPF.
To secure a bright energy for her teeming population, Nigeria must sustain the momentum of reform, accelerate investment, and deepen partnerships.
This view was expressed by Managing Director, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company of Nigeria Limited (SNEPCo) Ronald Adams in Lagos at the weekend.
Delivering a keynote address at the Africa Energy Conference (AEC) of the Lagos Business School (LBS), Adams called for regulatory certainty through efficient execution of reforms, sustained investment appeal to enable projects to move more swiftly from opportunity to production and partnership by operators, regulators, NNPC Limited and communities to unlock the full value of Nigeria’s resources.
Adams cited Nigeria’s huge oil and gas resources as an advantage but pointed out: “Resources alone do not guarantee prosperity. Prosperity comes when resources are matched with investment, technology, sound policy and disciplined execution. Success will be determined not by the size of our resources, but by our ability to convert them into investment and economic growth.”
Adams pledged the support of Shell towards a bright energy future of Nigerians. He said: “For more than six decades, Shell has been part of Nigeria’s energy journey. Together with our partners, we have helped develop major energy infrastructure, supported Nigerian businesses, invested in talent, and contributed to economic development. Bonga remains a powerful example of what technology, partnership and Nigerian capability can achieve in deepwater operations. Today, that story continues through Bonga North.”
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Issuing a clarion call for action by all stakeholders, he added: “The world is not standing still. Capital is moving, technology is advancing and competition is intensifying. The countries that attract investment tomorrow are those that improve competitiveness today. Nigeria has begun that journey. Our task is to sustain the momentum and translate reform into projects, projects into growth, and growth into shared prosperity.”
The conference, the 4th in the series had at its theme; “Securing Nigeria’s Energy Future: Policy Reform, Capital Mobilisation, and Pathways to a Sustainable Power and Energy Market” and was attended by top government officials, industry captains, energy professionals, and students.
Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat represented Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu as the guest of honour. SNEPCo was a principal sponsor of the Africa Energy Conference (AEC) and mounted a well-received exhibition on its deepwater operations and social investments across Nigeria.
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