President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the exercise of the presidential prerogative of mercy for 175 persons, including Nigeria’s foremost nationalist, Herbert Macaulay, and former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Major-General Mamman Vatsa (retd.)
The approval was confirmed on Thursday after the Council of State endorsed the recommendation presented by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), during its meeting at the State House, Abuja.
Posthumous Pardons for National Figures
Maj.-Gen. Mamman Jiya Vatsa, who was executed in 1986 after being convicted of treason, received a posthumous pardon from the President.
Vatsa, a respected soldier and poet, was among 17 individuals granted presidential pardon.
Also pardoned posthumously was Herbert Macaulay, Nigeria’s nationalist and co-founder of the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) alongside Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe.
Macaulay, who was the first president of the party, played a major role in Nigeria’s independence struggle.
In 1913, Macaulay was unjustly convicted by the colonial authorities and banned from holding public office. He died in 1946, but the conviction remained on his record until now.
Other Beneficiaries
Among those granted clemency are former House of Representatives member Farouk Lawan, Mrs. Anastasia Daniel Nwaobia, Barrister Hussaini Umar, and Ayinla Saadu Alanamu.
The President also pardoned Nweke Francis Chibueze, serving a life sentence for cocaine-related offences, and Dr. Nwogu Peters, who had served 12 of his 17-year sentence for fraud.
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The Ogoni Nine, including Ken Saro-Wiwa, Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel, and John Kpuine, were also formally pardoned.
In addition, the Ogoni Four namely Chief Albert Badey, Chief Edward Kobani, Chief Samuel Orage, and Theophilus Orage were each awarded national honours posthumously.
Prison Inmates and Clemency Measures
President Tinubu extended clemency to 82 inmates and reduced the prison terms of 65 others. Seven inmates on death row had their sentences commuted to life imprisonment.
The President 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 of the committee include Chief Akinlolu Olujinmi (CON), Prof. Alkasum Abba, Prof. (Mrs.) Nike Ijaiya, Justice Augustine Utsaha, and the committee secretary, Dr. Onwusoro Maduka, a former permanent secretary.
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Institutional representatives were drawn from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Correctional Service, National Human Rights Commission, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA).
Council’s Review and Criteria
The committee’s final report, presented to the Council of State on Thursday, detailed the review of 175 inmates and 119 applications. It stated that 82 inmates were recommended for clemency, two for full pardon, 65 for term reduction, and seven death sentences commuted to life imprisonment.
Fifteen ex-convicts were also recommended for presidential pardon, including 11 deceased persons, among them the Ogoni Nine.
According to the report, recommendations were based on old age (60 years and above), terminal illness, young offenders (16 years and below), long-term convicts with good behaviour, and remorseful inmates who had shown efforts at rehabilitation through vocational training.
The Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy (PACPM) was inaugurated on January 15, 2025, by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume.
The initiative is part of the government’s ongoing effort to promote justice, rehabilitation, and human rights in the Nigerian correctional system.
Source: TVC News
Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.
