• President Tinubu exercises constitutional powers to clear records of 175 Nigerians
• Herbert Macaulay, Mamman Vatsa, and Ogoni 9 among those pardoned
• 82 inmates, including convicts and ex-lawmakers, benefit from the national clemency list
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has granted presidential pardons to 175 individuals, including iconic nationalist Herbert Macaulay, late Major General Mamman Jiya Vatsa (retd.), and environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, as part of a broad national clemency exercise endorsed by the National Council of State on Thursday in Abuja.
The Council meeting, held at the Presidential Villa, followed recommendations from the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy (PACPM), chaired by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
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Prominent Names on the List
Among the high-profile beneficiaries are Farouk Lawan, a former House of Representatives member; Mrs. Anastasia Daniel Nwaobia, Barr. Hussaini Umar, and Ayinla Saadu Alanamu.
The list also includes Nweke Francis Chibueze, who had been serving a life sentence for a drug-related offence, and Dr. Nwogu Peters, who had completed 12 of a 17-year term for fraud.
The late Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni activists — collectively known as the Ogoni 9 — were also posthumously pardoned. They include Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel, and John Kpuine.
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Also, national honours were awarded to the Ogoni 4 , Chief Albert Badey, Chief Edward Kobani, Chief Samuel Orage, and Theophilus Orage for their roles in advancing the struggle for environmental justice in the Niger Delta.
Presidential Mercy in Action
In exercising his constitutional authority, President Tinubu granted clemency to 82 inmates, commuted seven death sentences to life imprisonment, and approved sentence reductions for 65 others.
A total of 15 ex-convicts, including 11 deceased persons, received full presidential pardons.
The PACPM report, submitted to the Council of State, disclosed that 294 applications were reviewed, comprising 175 inmates and 119 external requests. Of these, 82 were recommended for clemency, two for pardon, 65 for reduced jail terms, and seven death sentences for commutation.
Selection Criteria
The Committee, inaugurated on January 15, 2025, by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, based its decisions on factors including old age (60 years and above), terminal illness, exemplary conduct, rehabilitation through vocational training, and proven remorse.
According to the report, the goal is to uphold justice, promote rehabilitation, and reintegrate reformed citizens into society.
