In a significant exercise of executive clemency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has granted pardons and clemency to 175 individuals, including convicts, former convicts, and posthumous beneficiaries. The decision, announced by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, reflects a commitment to justice, rehabilitation, and correcting historical wrongs. The beneficiaries include a diverse group of individuals convicted of various offenses, ranging from drug-related crimes and fraud to illegal mining and high-profile capital offenses. The decision was informed by recommendations from the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, chaired by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi, SAN.
The committee’s report, presented at a recent Council of State meeting chaired by President Tinubu, emphasized factors such as demonstrated remorse, good conduct in prison, advanced age, acquisition of vocational skills, and enrollment in educational programs like the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). Additionally, the clemency addresses historical injustices, including the posthumous pardon of Nigerian nationalist Sir Herbert Macaulay and the Ogoni Nine, whose convictions have long been a subject of national and international debate.
Breakdown of the Presidential Clemency
The clemency initiative includes:
Full Pardons: Granted to two inmates and 15 former convicts, 11 of whom are deceased.
Clemency: Extended to 82 inmates, with many released based on their rehabilitation progress.
Commutation of Sentences: Applied to 65 inmates, including seven individuals whose death sentences were reduced to life imprisonment.
Posthumous Pardons: Addressing historical injustices, notably for Sir Herbert Macaulay, Major-General Mamman Jiya Vatsa, and the Ogoni Nine.
Key Beneficiaries and Their Stories
The list of beneficiaries reflects a wide range of offenses and circumstances, showcasing the President’s intent to balance mercy with justice:
Pardoned Individuals
Nweke Francis Chibueze, 44, serving a life sentence for cocaine-related offenses at Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison, was pardoned due to demonstrated remorse and good conduct.
Dr. Nwogu Peters, 67, convicted of fraud in 2013 and serving a 17-year sentence, was granted a pardon based on his age and rehabilitation progress.
Mrs. Anastasia Daniel Nwaoba, 63, who had completed her sentence for fraud, received a formal pardon to clear her record.
Barr. Hussaini Alhaji Umar, 58, sentenced in 2023 for a high-profile ICPC case involving a N150 million fine, was pardoned after serving part of his term.
Hon. Farouk M. Lawan, 62, a former lawmaker convicted of corrupt practices in 2021, was pardoned after completing his five-year sentence.
Maryam Sanda, 37, sentenced to death in 2020 for culpable homicide, had her sentence commuted and was pardoned after serving over six years. Her release was supported by her family’s plea, citing her good conduct, remorse, and the welfare of her two children.
Posthumous Pardons
Sir Herbert Macaulay, a prominent Nigerian nationalist, was banned from public office in 1913 by British colonial authorities for alleged misappropriation of funds. President Tinubu’s pardon seeks to correct this colonial-era injustice, restoring Macaulay’s legacy as a pioneer of Nigeria’s independence movement.
Major-General Mamman Jiya Vatsa, executed in 1986 for an alleged coup plot, received a posthumous pardon, acknowledging controversies surrounding his trial.
The Ogoni Nine (Ken Saro-Wiwa, Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawa, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel, and John Kpuine), executed in 1995 for murder amid the Ogoni environmental activism crisis, were posthumously pardoned. This move addresses long-standing calls for justice and reconciliation in the Niger Delta. Additionally, four victims associated with the Ogoni Nine case—Chief Albert Badey, Chief Edward Kobaru, Chief Samuel Orage, and Chief Theophilus Orage—were honored.
Clemency for Rehabilitation
Many beneficiaries of clemency were recognized for their efforts to reform while incarcerated:
Aluagwu Lawrence, 47, convicted in 2015 for selling Indian hemp, was granted clemency after showing remorse.
Ben Friday, 60, sentenced in 2023 for marijuana possession, benefited from clemency due to his age and good conduct.
Abiodun Elemero, 43, serving a life sentence for cocaine trafficking since 2014, was released after over a decade in Kirikiri, having demonstrated significant rehabilitation.
Illegal Miners: A group of 30 individuals, convicted in 2024 for unlawful mining, were granted clemency with an undertaking from Senator Ikra Aliyu Bilbis to oversee their rehabilitation and empowerment.
Commuted Sentences
The committee recommended sentence reductions for 65 inmates, prioritizing those who had shown remorse, acquired new skills, or faced health and age-related challenges:
Yusuf Owolabi, 36, sentenced to life in 2015 for manslaughter, had his term reduced to 12 years after demonstrating remorse and learning vocational skills.
Ajasper Benzeger, 69, convicted of culpable homicide in 2015, had his 20-year sentence reduced to 12 years due to old age and ill-health.
Major S.A. Akubo, 62, sentenced to life in 2009 for illegally removing 7,000 weapons, had his sentence commuted to 20 years based on good conduct.
Professor Magaji Garba, 67, convicted in 2021 for obtaining money by false pretence, saw his seven-year sentence reduced to four years due to his age and good behavior.
Rationale Behind the Clemency
The Presidential Advisory Committee evaluated each case meticulously, focusing on:
Remorse and Rehabilitation: Many inmates demonstrated genuine reform through good conduct, participation in vocational training, or enrollment in educational programs like NOUN.
Health and Age: Elderly inmates or those with serious health conditions were prioritized for clemency or sentence reductions.
Historical Injustices: Posthumous pardons addressed cases where convictions were marred by controversy or perceived as politically motivated, such as those of Macaulay, Vatsa, and the Ogoni Nine.
Social and Family Considerations: Cases like Maryam Sanda’s highlighted the importance of family welfare, particularly for children, in clemency decisions.
Impact and Significance
This sweeping act of clemency underscores President Tinubu’s commitment to justice reform, rehabilitation, and national reconciliation. By addressing both contemporary and historical cases, the initiative bridges past grievances with present-day efforts to reintegrate reformed individuals into society. The inclusion of high-profile figures like the Ogoni Nine and Sir Herbert Macaulay signals a willingness to confront Nigeria’s complex history, while the focus on vocational training and education reflects a forward-looking approach to reducing recidivism.
The clemency also highlights the role of the Presidential Advisory Committee in ensuring a transparent and merit-based process. The committee’s recommendations, grounded in thorough assessments, aim to balance mercy with accountability, ensuring that beneficiaries are those who have genuinely earned a second chance.
Conclusion
President Tinubu’s decision to grant pardons and clemency to 175 individuals marks a significant moment in Nigeria’s justice system. By offering mercy to those who have shown remorse, addressing historical wrongs, and prioritizing rehabilitation, the administration is fostering a more inclusive and restorative approach to justice. The full list of beneficiaries, ranging from reformed drug offenders to posthumously pardoned nationalists, reflects a broad and compassionate vision for Nigeria’s future. For further details, the public can access the complete report through official government channels.
