Breaking: Presidency Unveils List Of Nigerians Granted Presidential Pardon By Tinubu

President Tinubu Grants Presidential Pardon to Herbert Macaulay, Mamman Vatsa, Farouk Lawan, and Others....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

President Bola Tinubu has approved the presidential pardon of Nigerian nationalist Herbert Macaulay, the late Major-General Mamman Vatsa, and former lawmaker Farouk Lawan, among others, following the endorsement of the National Council of State.

The announcement was made in Abuja on Thursday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who explained that the move was part of efforts to decongest correctional facilities and promote restorative justice.

Macaulay — revered as the father of Nigerian nationalism — received a posthumous pardon more than a century after his 1913 conviction by colonial authorities, which disqualified him from holding public office. Though he died in 1946, the blemish of the sentence had lingered until now.

Similarly, Vatsa, a poet and former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory who was executed in 1986 under General Ibrahim Babangida’s regime for alleged coup plotting, was posthumously cleared nearly four decades after his controversial death.

Also on the list was Farouk Lawan, a former member of the House of Representatives convicted of bribery, alongside Anastasia Daniel Nwaobia, Hussaini Umar, and Ayinla Saadu Alanamu, who were said to have demonstrated “genuine remorse” and readiness to reintegrate into society.

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

In total, the Council approved presidential mercy for 82 inmates, reduced the sentences of 65 others, and commuted seven death sentences to life imprisonment.

Ogoni Nine and Ogoni Four Honoured

In a symbolic gesture, President Tinubu also extended posthumous pardons to the Ogoni Nine, led by environmental rights activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, who were executed in 1995 under the late General Sani Abacha.

Posthumous national honours were equally conferred on members of the Ogoni Four — Albert Badey, Edward Kobani, Samuel Orage, and Theophilus Orage — in recognition of their sacrifices during the Niger Delta struggle.

The pardons followed the recommendations of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy (PACPM), chaired by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN). Other committee members include Akinlolu Olujinmi, Alkasum Abba, Nike Sidikat Ijaiya, Augustine Utsaha, and Onwusoro Maduka (secretary), with representatives from the police, correctional service, National Human Rights Commission, NSCIA, and CAN.

Inaugurated by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, in January 2025, the committee reviewed 294 applications and interviewed 175 inmates, applying criteria such as age, health, conduct, rehabilitation, and duration of sentence in its recommendations.

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