TINUBU SIGNS CLEMENCY ORDER, PARDONS FAROUK LAWAN, KEN SARO-WIWA, MAMMAN VATSA

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BY MUNIRAT BALOGUN

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has granted state pardons and clemency to several high-profile Nigerians, including late environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, former lawmaker Farouk Lawan, and late military officer Major General Mamman Jiya Vatsa, among others.

This followed the signing of the official Instruments of Clemency and Pardons by the President, in line with his constitutional powers under Section 175(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

The move comes after consultations with the Council of State and a comprehensive review of the initial list of pardon requests. According to the Presidency, the exercise aims to reflect justice, fairness, and national reconciliation while balancing public safety and societal expectations.

President Tinubu, through his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the review was necessary to ensure that individuals convicted of serious crimes such as kidnapping, arms dealing, drug trafficking, and human trafficking were excluded from the clemency list, in consideration of the victims and the overall security implications.

Those Granted Presidential Pardon

Among those granted full pardons are:

Mrs. Anastasia Daniel Nwaobia
Barr. Hussaini Alhaji Umar
Ayinla Saadu Alanamu
Hon. Farouk M. Lawan — a former House of Representatives member convicted for bribery
Herbert Macaulay — nationalist and freedom fighter
Major General Mamman Jiya Vatsa — executed in 1986 for alleged coup plotting
Ken Saro-Wiwa — executed Ogoni rights activist
Saturday Dobee
Nordu Eawo
Daniel Gbooko
Paul Levera
Felix Nuale
Baribor Bera
Barinem Kiobel
John Kpuine

Commuted Sentences

Four individuals who had been sentenced to death had their sentences commuted to life imprisonment. They include:

Emmanuel Baba
Abubakar Usman
Khalifa Umar
Mohammed Umar

Beneficiaries of Clemency

Others who received presidential clemency include:

Oroka Michael Chibueze
Adesanya Olufemi Paul
Daniel Bodunwa
Hamza Abubakar
Buhari Sani
Mohammed Musa
Muharazu Abubakar
Ibrahim Yusuf
Saad Ahmed Madaki
Ex-Corporal Michael Bawa
Richard Ayuba
Adam Abubakar
Emmanuel Yusuf
Chinedu Stanley
Johnny Ntheru Udor

Institutional Reforms Announced

In a significant administrative shift, President Tinubu also directed the relocation of the Secretariat of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy from the Federal Ministry of Special Duties to the Federal Ministry of Justice.

The President further instructed the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) to develop new Guidelines for the Exercise of the Power of Prerogative of Mercy, which will include compulsory consultation with relevant prosecuting and security agencies before future pardons are approved.

The Presidency stated that this reform would ensure that only deserving applicants who meet all legal and procedural requirements benefit from such exercises going forward.

President Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to justice reform, national healing, and a fairer correctional system, emphasizing that the clemency initiative reflects “the spirit of compassion, constitutional responsibility, and the need to strengthen the integrity of Nigeria’s justice system.”

The approved list has been transmitted to the Nigerian Correctional Service for implementation.