Tinubu Grants Presidential Pardon to Herbert Macaulay, Mamman Vatsa, Farouk Lawan, and Others
President Bola Tinubu has approved presidential pardons for several notable Nigerians, including nationalist Herbert Macaulay, the late Major-General Mamman Vatsa, and former lawmaker Farouk Lawan. The decision, endorsed by the National Council of State, was announced in Abuja by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to Onanuga, the move reflects the government’s effort to decongest prisons and promote restorative justice across the country.
Honouring Herbert Macaulay and Mamman Vatsa
Herbert Macaulay, often celebrated as the father of Nigerian nationalism, received a posthumous pardon more than a century after his 1913 conviction by British colonial authorities. That conviction had prevented him from holding public office, a blemish that remained long after his death in 1946.
Major-General Mamman Vatsa, a poet, writer, and member of the Supreme Military Council, was also granted a pardon nearly forty years after his execution in 1986 for alleged involvement in a coup attempt under General Ibrahim Babangida’s regime.
Clemency for Farouk Lawan and Other Inmates
Among those pardoned is former lawmaker Farouk Lawan, previously convicted of bribery. Others include Anastasia Daniel Nwaobia, Hussaini Umar, and Ayinla Saadu Alanamu—individuals described as having shown genuine remorse and readiness to reintegrate into society.
Tinubu’s approval also covered Nweke Francis Chibueze, who had been serving a life sentence for drug trafficking, and Nwogu Peters, who had already completed 12 of a 17-year jail term for fraud.
In total, presidential clemency was extended to 82 inmates, with 65 others having their sentences reduced. Seven death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment.
Ogoni Nine and Ogoni Four Receive National Recognition
In a powerful symbolic gesture, the President granted posthumous pardons to the Ogoni Nine, led by renowned environmentalist Ken Saro-Wiwa. They were executed in 1995 during General Sani Abacha’s regime for their activism in the Niger Delta.
Additionally, national honours were posthumously awarded to the Ogoni Four — Albert Badey, Edward Kobani, Samuel Orage, and Theophilus Orage — acknowledging their courage and contributions to environmental and human rights causes in the region.
The Work Behind the Clemency
The presidential pardon followed recommendations from the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy (PACPM), chaired by Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
Committee members included Akinlolu Olujinmi, Alkasum Abba, Nike Sidikat Ijaiya, Augustine Utsaha, and Onwusoro Maduka, who served as secretary. The panel also had representatives from the Nigerian Correctional Service, the police, the National Human Rights Commission, and faith-based bodies like 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. Their recommendations were guided by factors such as old age, terminal illness, long sentences, good conduct, and successful rehabilitation.
A Step Toward Healing and Justice
This latest round of clemency reflects a broader attempt to promote forgiveness, fairness, and social reintegration — while honouring key figures who shaped Nigeria’s history and struggle for justice.
