Tinubu Grants Clemency to 175 People, Including Macaulay, Vatsa, Ogoni Nine [FULL LIST]

ABUJA, Nigeria — President Bola Tinubu has granted pardons, commutations and sentence reductions to 175 people after the National Council of State endorsed recommendations from the presidential advisory committee on the prerogative of mercy.

Posthumous pardons were issued to prominent historical figures, including Herbert Macaulay — barred from public office by colonial authorities in 1913 — and Mamman Jiya Vatsa, the major general and poet executed in 1986 after a treason conviction.

The presidency also announced posthumous pardons for the Ogoni Nine: Ken Saro-Wiwa, Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawa, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel and John Kpuine.

Four victims associated with the case — Albert Badey, Edward Kobaru, Samuel Orage and Theophilus Orage — were formally honoured.

Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said the clemency exercise considered rehabilitation and behaviour.

Tinubu acted, he said, after reports that many had “shown remorse and good conduct,” adding that other grounds included “old age,” “acquisition of new vocational skills,” and “enrolment in the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).”

The committee, chaired by Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi, recommended clemency for two inmates and 15 former convicts, 11 of whom are deceased; mercy for 82 inmates; commutation of sentences for 65; and conversion of seven death sentences to life imprisonment.

Pardoned

1. Nweke Francis Chibueze, 44

2. Nwogu Peters, 67

3. Anastasia Daniel Nwaoba, 63

4. Hussaini Alhaji Umar, 58

5. Ayinla Saadu Alanamu, 63

6. Farouk M. Lawan, 62

Posthumous Pardon

7. Sir Herbert Macaulay

8. Major-General Mamman Jiya Vatsa, 46

Posthumous Pardon: The Ogoni Nine

9. Ken Saro-Wiwa

10. Saturday Dobee

11. Nordu Eawa

12. Daniel Gbooko

13. Paul Levera

14. Felix Nuate

15. Baribor Bera

16. Barinem Kiobel

17. John Kpuine

Victims of Ogoni Nine Honoured

1. Albert Badey

2. Edward Kobaru

3. Samuel Orage

4. Theophilus Orage

Presidential Clemency

According to the presidency, most beneficiaries showed either remorse or acquired vocational skills or educational qualifications in custody.

1. Aluagwu Lawrence, 47

2. Ben Friday, 60

3. Oroke Micheal Chibueze, 21

4. Kelvin Christopher Smith, 42

5. Azubuike Jeremiah Emeka, 31

6. Akinrinnade Akinwande Adebiyi, 47

7. Ahmed Adeyemo, 38

8. Adeniyi Jimoh, 31

9. Seun Omirinde, 3

10. Adesanya Olufemi Paul, 61

11. Ife Yusuf, 37

12. Daniel Bodunwa, 43

13. Fidelis Michael, 40

14. Suru Akande, 52

15. Safiyanu Umar, 56

16. Dahiru Abdullahi, 46

17. Hamza Abubakar, 37

18. Rabiu Alhassan Dawaki, 52

19. Mujibu Muhammad, 30

20. Emmanuel Eze, 49

21. Bala Azika Yahaya, 70

22. Lina Kusum Wilson, 34

23. Buhari Sani, 33

24. Mohammed Musa, 27

25. Muharazu Abubakar, 37

26. Ibrahim Yusuf, 34

27. Saad Ahmed Madaki, 72

28. Michael Bawa, 72

29. Richard Ayuba, 38

30. Adam Abubakar, 30

31. Emmanuel Yusuf, 34

32. Edwin Nnazor, 60

33. Chinedu Stanley, 34

34. Joseph Nwanoka, 42

35. Johnny Ntheru, 63

36. John Omotiye, 28

37. Nsikat Edet Harry, 37

38. Jonathan Asuquo, 28

39. Prince Samuel Peters, 54

40. Babangida Saliu, 35

41. Adamu Sanni, 39

42. Abdulkarem Salisu, 30

43. Abdulaziz Lawal, 18

44. Abdulrahman Babangida, 20

45. Maharazu Alidu, 22

46. Zaharadeen Baliue, 38

47. Babangida Usman, 30

48. Zayyanu Abdullahi, 28

49. Bashir Garuba, 20

50. Imam Suleman, 25

51. Abbeh Amisu, 28

52. Lawani Lurwanu, 20

53. Yusuf Alhassan, 33

54. Abdulahi Isah, 25

55. Zayanu Bello, 35

56. Habeeb Suleman, 22

57. Jubrin Sahabi, 23

58. Shefiu Umar, 28

59. Seidu Abubakar, 29

60. Haruna Abubakar, 24

61. Rabiu Seidu, 26

62. Macha Kuru, 25

63. Zahradeen Aminu, 25

64. Nazipi Musa, 25

65. Abdullahi Musa, 30

66. Habibu Safiu, 20

67. Husseni Sani, 21

68. Musa Lawali, 25

69. Suleiman Lawal, 23

70. Yusuf Iliyasu, 21

71. Sebiyu Aliyu, 20

72. Halliru Sani, 18

73. Shittu Aliyu, 30

74. Sanusi Aminu, 27

75. Isiaka Adamu, 40

76. Mamman Ibrahim, 50

77. Shuaibu Abdullahi, 35

78. Sanusi Adamu, 28

79. Sadi Musa, 20

80. Haruna Isah, 35

81. Abiodun Elemero, 43

82. Maryam Sanda, 37

Onanuga said Sanda’s family pleaded for her release, arguing it was in the best interest of her two children, and cited her “good conduct,” “remorse,” and “embracement of a new lifestyle.”

Ikra Aliyu Bilbis, senator representing Zamfara North, signed an undertaking to be responsible for the rehabilitation and empowerment of all convicted illegal miners granted presidential clemency.

List of Inmates Recommended for Reduced Term of Imprisonment

1. Yusuf Owolabi, 36 — life (2015) to 12 years

2. Ifeanyi Eze, 33 — life (2021) to 12 years

3. Malam Ibrahim Sulaiman, 59 — life (2022) to 10 years

4. Shettima Maaji Arfo, 54 — seven years (2021) to four years

5. Ajasper Benzeger, 69 — 20 years (2015) to 12 years

6. Ifenna Kennechukwu, 42 — 20 years (2015) to 12 years

7. Mgbeike Matthew, 45 — 20 years (2013) to 12 years

8. Patrick Mensah, 40 — 17 years (2015) to 11 years

9. Obi Edwin Chukwu, 43 — 15 years (2017) to 10 years

10. Tunde Balogun, 32 — 15 years (2015) to 10 years

11. Lima Pereira Erick Diego, 27 — 15 years (2017) to 10 years

12. Uchegbu Emeka Michael, 37 — 15 years (2017) to 10 years

13. Salawu Adebayo Samsudeen, 46 — 15 years (2016) to 10 years

14. Napolo Osariemen, 61 — 15 years (2022) to seven years

15. Patricia Echoe Igninovia, 61 — seven years (2023) to five years

16. Odeyemi Omolaram, 65 — 25 years (2017) to 12 years

17. Vera Daniel Ifork, 29 — 10 years (2020) to eight years

18. Gabriel Juliet Chidimma, 32 — six years (2022) to four years

19. Dias Santos Marcia Christiana, 44 — 15 years (2017) to 10 years

20. Alh. Ibrahim Hameed, 71 — seven years (2023) to five years

21. Alh. Nasiru Ogara Adinoyi, 65