By Emmanuel Kwada
In a landmark exercise of presidential prerogative, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has granted posthumous pardons to Nigerian nationalist Herbert Macaulay, poet and military officer Major General Mamman Jiya Vatsa, and the Ogoni Nine, alongside clemency for 82 inmates and sentence reductions for 65 others. The decision, announced following the National Council of State meeting in Abuja on Thursday, marks a significant step toward justice and reconciliation in Nigeria.
Herbert Macaulay, a co-founder of the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC) and a pivotal figure in Nigeria’s independence struggle, was pardoned for a 1913 conviction by British colonial authorities, which barred him from public office.
The pardon clears the stigma of his ex-convict status, restoring his legacy as a national hero. Major General Mamman Jiya Vatsa, executed in 1986 on treason charges, also received a posthumous pardon, acknowledging his contributions as a poet and military officer.
The Ogoni Nine—Ken Saro-Wiwa, Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel, and John Kpuine—convicted in a controversial 1995 trial, were formally pardoned.
Additionally, the Ogoni Four—Chief Albert Badey, Chief Edward Kobani, Chief Samuel Orage, and Theophilus Orage—were recommended for posthumous national honours in recognition of their contributions.
President Tinubu extended clemency to 82 inmates, including former House of Representatives member Farouk Lawan, Mrs. Anastasia Daniel Nwaobia, Barrister Hussaini Umar, and Ayinla Saadu Alanamu, who demonstrated remorse and readiness to reintegrate into society.
Nweke Francis Chibueze, serving a life sentence for cocaine-related charges, and Dr. Nwogu Peters, who served 12 years of a 17-year fraud sentence, were also pardoned. Seven inmates on death row had their sentences commuted to life imprisonment, while 65 others received reduced prison terms.
The pardons and clemency decisions were based on recommendations from the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy (PACPM), chaired by Attorney General and Justice Minister Prince Lateef Fagbemi.
The 12-member committee, inaugurated on January 15, 2025, by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, evaluated 294 cases, interviewing 175 inmates (160 male, 15 female).
The committee’s criteria included old age (60+), terminal illness, youth (16 and below), long-term imprisonment (10+ years), good behavior, and vocational training for rehabilitation.
The committee’s report, presented to the Council of State, recommended clemency for 82 inmates, pardons for 15 ex-convicts (11 deceased, including the Ogoni Nine), and national honours for the Ogoni Four.
The PACPM includes representatives from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Correctional Service, National Human Rights Commission, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, and Christian Association of Nigeria.
The pardons and clemency reflect President Tinubu’s commitment to promoting justice, rehabilitation, and human rights. The move has been hailed as a historic act of mercy, addressing past injustices and offering second chances to reformed inmates.
The posthumous pardons, particularly for Macaulay, Vatsa, and the Ogoni Nine, signal a renewed effort to reconcile with Nigeria’s complex historical and political past.
