Nigerian Government pardons Herbert Macaulay, Vatsa, Lawan, extends clemency to 82 inmates

*President Bola Ahmed Tinubu grants posthumous pardon to late Major-General Mamman Jiya Vatsa, sentenced to death over a treason charge in 1986, several former convicts, and the ‘Ogoni Nine’ among several others in accordance with the Nigerian Constitution

Emmanuel Akosile | ConsumerConnect

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has granted a posthumous pardon to late Major-General Mamman Jiya Vatsa, whom the Federal Government of Nigeria sentenced to death over a treason charge in 1986.

Vatsa, a poet, was among the 17 people who received Presidential pardons, following the endorsement of the country’s National Council of State at a meeting held Thursday, October 9, 2025, in Abuja, FCT.

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Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, who disclosed this development in a statement Thursday, said President Tinubu also granted a posthumous pardon to Herbert Macaulay, a Nigerian nationalist and co-founder with Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, of the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC).

Macaulay was the party’s first President, which played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s struggle for political independence.

However, in 1913, Macaulay was believed unjustly convicted by the British colonialists and banned from public office.

Macaulay died in 1946, but the stigma of being an ex-convict was not exorcised from his records until now.

President Tinubu also pardoned four former convicts, including former House of Representatives member, Farouk Lawan, Mrs. Anastasia Daniel Nwaobia, Barrister Hussaini Umar and Ayinla Saadu Alanamu.

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The statement noted the Presidency pardoned the individuals to enable them to reintegrate into society, having demonstrated sufficient remorse.

Nweke Francis Chibueze, serving a life sentence for cocaine, was pardoned, along with Dr. Nwogu Peters, who had served 12 out of his 17-year sentence for fraud, stated the Presidential aide.

Likewise, Tinubu pardoned the “Ogoni Nine”: Ken Saro Wiwa, Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel and John Kpuine.

The Nigerian President simultaneously, awarded National Honours to the “Ogoni Four”: Chief Albert Badey, Chief Edward Kobani, Chief Samuel Orage and Theophilus Orage.

The statement further indicated President Tinubu, in exercising his constitutional power of mercy, therefore, granted clemency to 82 inmates and reduced the prison terms of 65 others.

He equally gave a reprieve for seven inmates on the death row by commuting their sentences to life imprisonment, Onanuga stated.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy said President Tinubu acted on the recommendations of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy (PACPM).

According to Onanuga, the Committee has 12 members, with the Attorney General and Justice Minister, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, as Chairman.

The other members are Chief Akinlolu Olujinmi, CON; Prof. Alkasum Abba; Prof. (Mrs.) Nike Y. Sidikat Ijaiya; Justice Augustine B. Utsaha; and the Secretary, Dr. Onwusoro Maduka, a former Permanent Secretary.

The institutional representatives on the Committee are: the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs; representatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Correctional Service, National Human Rights Commission, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

The Committee’s presented its final report to the Council of State Thursday, in Abuja, as required by the Nigerian Constitution.

The statement noted the submitted report indicated “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.”

The Committed reported: “One hundred and sixty of the inmates interviewed were male, while 15 were female. Eighty-two inmates were recommended for clemency; two (2) for pardon; sixty-five (65) inmates for reduction of their terms of imprisonment, and seven (7) inmates on death row for commutation to life imprisonment.

“Also, fifteen (15) ex-convicts were recommended for Presidential Pardon, eleven (11) of them are deceased (including Ogoni 9). The Ogoni four (4) were also recommended for the Post-Humous National Honours Award.

“On the whole, a total of one hundred and seventy-five (175) beneficiaries are recommended.’’

The Committee had acted on the following criteria: old age (60 years and above); ill health likely to terminate in death; young persons (16 years and below); long-term convicts who have served prison terms of 10 years or more with a good record; and convicts serving three years or more

The report further stated: “Those who have been in Custodial centres, learnt sustainable vocational trades capable of keeping them away from crime; those who are adjudged remorseful; those who Correctional Officers recommended for exemplary behaviour and Nigerian prisoners deported from other countries.”

It is recalled Sen. George Akume, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), had inaugurated the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy (PACPM) January 15, 2025, as a significant step towards promoting justice, rehabilitation, and human rights in Nigeria.

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