By John Umeh
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has granted a presidential pardon to 175 individuals, including iconic nationalist Herbert Macaulay, former FCT Minister Maj-Gen. Mamman Vatsa (retd.), and members of the Ogoni Nine and Ogoni Four, following recommendations from the Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy.
The decision, ratified at Thursday’s Council of State meeting in Abuja, was presented by Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN).
Macaulay, remembered as the “Father of Nigerian Nationalism,” was convicted twice under colonial rule—once in 1913 for alleged mismanagement of funds and again in 1928 for sedition linked to the Eleko of Lagos agitation. His trials have long been viewed by historians as politically motivated.
Vatsa, a soldier, poet, and childhood friend of former military ruler Ibrahim Babangida, was executed by firing squad in 1986 after being accused of plotting a coup—a case that has remained controversial for decades.
Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani, who briefed State House correspondents after the meeting, revealed that:
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82 inmates received full pardons,
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65 had their sentences reduced, and
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7 death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment.
He added that the move reflects President Tinubu’s commitment to justice and prison reforms.
In addition to the pardons, the Council also ratified the appointments of Dr. Aminu Yusuf (Niger State) as Chairman of the National Population Commission and Tonge Bularafa (Yobe State) as a Federal Commissioner of the Commission.
