President Bola Tinubu on Thursday granted presidential pardons to one of Nigeria’s founding fathers, Herbert Macaulay, and Major General Mamman Vatsa (retd), a former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory under the Babangida regime.
Vatsa, a poet and former military officer, was executed in 1986 after being convicted of treason, while Macaulay was twice convicted by colonial authorities in Lagos. In 1913, during his private practice as a surveyor, Macaulay faced trial for allegedly misappropriating funds from an estate he managed—a case historians continue to debate for its fairness.
Vatsa was among 17 individuals who received presidential pardons following the endorsement of the National Council of State in Abuja. Tinubu also conferred a posthumous pardon on Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, founder of the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC).
Additionally, the President pardoned four former convicts—Farouk Lawan, Anastasia Daniel Nwaobia, Barrister Hussaini Umar, and Ayinla Saadu Alanamu—to facilitate their reintegration into society after showing genuine remorse. Nweke Francis Chibueze, serving a life sentence for drug offences, and Dr Nwogu Peters, who had completed 12 of his 17-year term for fraud, also received clemency.
Tinubu further pardoned the Ogoni Nine—Ken Saro-Wiwa, Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel, and John Kpuine—and posthumously awarded national honours to the Ogoni Four: Chief Albert Badey, Chief Edward Kobani, Chief Samuel Orage, and Theophilus Orage.
Exercising his constitutional power of mercy, the President granted clemency to 82 inmates, reduced the prison terms of 65 others, and commuted the death sentences of seven prisoners to life imprisonment.
Tinubu acted on the recommendations of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy (PACPM), chaired by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN). Other members include Chief Akinlolu Olujinmi (CON), Prof Alkasum Abba, Prof (Mrs) Nike Y. Sidikat Ijaiya, Justice Augustine B. Utsaha, and Dr Onwusoro Maduka, the committee’s secretary. Institutional representatives were drawn from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Correctional Service, National Human Rights Commission, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA).
The committee’s final report, submitted to the Council of State in Abuja, revealed that 175 inmates were interviewed and 62 applications were received on behalf of 119 others, totalling 294 cases. Among them, 82 inmates were recommended for clemency, two for full pardons, 65 for reduced sentences, and seven death-row prisoners for commutation to life imprisonment. Fifteen ex-convicts were also recommended for presidential pardons, including 11 posthumously (among them the Ogoni Nine).
The committee based its recommendations on criteria such as old age (60 years and above), terminal illness, youth (16 years and below), long-term imprisonment (10 years or more), and demonstrated remorse. It also considered inmates with good conduct, vocational training, or recommendations for exemplary behaviour.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, inaugurated the PACPM on 15 January 2025, describing it as a crucial step towards promoting justice, rehabilitation, and human rights in Nigeria.