President Bola Tinubu has granted presidential pardons to 189 Nigerians, including late nationalist Herbert Macaulay, former FCT Minister Major General Mamman Vatsa, and ex-lawmaker Farouk Lawan.
The announcement came on Thursday after the National Council of State meeting held at the State House in Abuja. The President’s approval followed recommendations by the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, chaired by Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi.
According to a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, “Major General Mamman Jiya Vatsa, sentenced to death over a treason charge in 1986, has received a posthumous pardon from President Bola Tinubu.”
Vatsa, a poet and former minister, was executed in 1986 after being accused of plotting a coup against then Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida. His death has remained one of the most debated events in Nigeria’s military history, with long-standing calls for his exoneration.
Also pardoned was Herbert Macaulay, regarded as the father of Nigerian nationalism. Macaulay was jailed by colonial authorities in 1913 on charges of misappropriation — a case many historians believe was politically motivated to silence his activism.
“Macaulay died in 1946, but the stigma of being an ex-convict was not removed from his record until now,” Onanuga said.
The President also pardoned four former convicts, including Farouk Lawan, a former member of the House of Representatives; Mrs. Anastasia Nwaobia; Hussaini Umar; and Ayinla Alanamu. Onanuga said, “They were pardoned to enable them to reintegrate into society, having shown sufficient remorse.”
Others granted clemency included Nweke Chibueze, serving a life sentence for drug offences, and Dr. Nwogu Peters, who had completed 12 of his 17-year sentence for fraud.
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Tinubu also approved a posthumous pardon for the Ogoni Nine, including Ken Saro-Wiwa and his colleagues executed in 1995, as well as national honours for the Ogoni Four — Albert Badey, Edward Kobani, Samuel Orage, and Theophilus Orage.
In total, the President approved clemency for 82 inmates, commuted seven death sentences to life imprisonment, and reduced prison terms for 65 others.
“The President exercised his constitutional power of mercy to promote justice and rehabilitation,” the statement added.
The advisory committee’s report revealed that 175 inmates were interviewed, and 294 applications were reviewed. It recommended clemency based on criteria such as old age, terminal illness, good conduct, long-term service, and proven remorse.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, had inaugurated the committee in January 2025 as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s justice and correctional systems.
According to Onanuga, President Tinubu’s decision “reflects his commitment to fairness, compassion, and national reconciliation.”