Council of State Approves Tinubu’s Clemency for 175 Convicts, Including Posthumous Pardons

By Eshiorameh Sebastian

Nigeria’s Council of State has approved President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to grant clemency to 175 convicts and former convicts, a move that also seeks to correct profound historical injustices, including the posthumous pardon of the acclaimed writer and environmental activist, Ken Saro-Wiwa, and eight other Ogoni men.

The decision, taken at a meeting of the Council chaired by President Tinubu, follows the recommendations of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, which was led by the Attorney-General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi.

The committee’s extensive review considered factors such as remorse, good conduct, old age, and the acquisition of new skills or education by the inmates.

The President, through his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Saturday stated that the decision reinforces the administration’s commitment to justice tempered with mercy.

The beneficiaries, totalling 175 individuals, fall into several categories. A number received full pardons, having already served their sentences or being currently incarcerated.

Others had their prison terms significantly reduced, while a third group, comprising seven inmates on death row, had their sentences commuted to life imprisonment.

Among the most prominent names to receive a full pardon is Maryam Sanda, aged 37, who was sentenced to death in 2020 for the culpable homicide of her husband. Her release was recommended after her family pleaded for mercy in the interest of her two young children, citing her good conduct, remorse, and a demonstrated commitment to a new lifestyle in prison.

Also pardoned were individuals like Dr. Nwogu Peters, aged 67, who was serving a 17-year term for fraud, and Farouk Lawan, the 62-year-old former lawmaker sentenced for corrupt practices.

The list of pardoned individuals also includes Nweke Francis Chibueze, Anastasia Daniel Nwaoba, Barr. Hussaini Alhaji Umar, and Ayinla Saadu Alanamu.

In a powerful gesture addressing colonial-era wrongs, the President granted a posthumous pardon to Sir Herbert Macaulay, one of Nigeria’s foremost nationalists, who was banned from public office for misappropriation of funds by British colonial authorities in 1913.

Furthermore, the government extended a posthumous pardon to Major-General Mamman Jiya Vatsa, who was executed in 1986 at the age of 46 for an alleged coup plot against the then military government.

However, the most historically significant posthumous pardons were granted to the group known as the Ogoni Nine. This includes Ken Saro-Wiwa, Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawa, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel, and John Kpuine. They were executed in 1995 by the military regime of General Sani Abacha following a trial that was widely condemned internationally. The government also honoured the memories of Chief Albert Badey, Chief Edward Kobaru, Chief Samuel Orage, and Chief Theophilus Orage, who were described as victims of the Ogoni Nine crisis.

The second major category of beneficiaries are those granted presidential clemency, a list dominated by individuals convicted for drug-related offences, but also featuring those jailed for illegal mining, fraud, and other crimes. The committee noted that most in this group had shown genuine remorse or had productively used their time in jail to learn new vocational skills.

This list is extensive, including names such as Aluagwu Lawrence, Ben Friday, Oroke Micheal Chibueze, Kelvin Christopher Smith, Azubuike Jeremiah Emeka, Akinrinnade Akinwande Adebiyi, and Ahmed Adeyemo. Others are Adeniyi Jimoh, Seun Omirinde, Adesanya Olufemi Paul, Ife Yusuf, Daniel Bodunwa, Fidelis Michael, Suru Akande, Safiyanu Umar, and Dahiru Abdullahi.

The list continues with Hamza Abubakar, Rabiu Alhassan Dawaki, Mujibu Muhammad, Emmanuel Eze, Bala Azika Yahaya, Lina Kusum Wilson, Buhari Sani, Mohammed Musa, Muharazu Abubakar, Ibrahim Yusuf, Saad Ahmed Madaki, and ex-Corporal Michael Bawa.

Also granted clemency were Richard Ayuba, Adam Abubakar, Emmanuel Yusuf, Edwin Nnazor, Chinedu Stanley, Joseph Nwanoka, and Johnny Ntheru. The group further includes John Omotiye, Nsikat Edet Harry, Jonathan Asuquo, and Prince Samuel Peters.

A significant portion of this clemency list comprises dozens of young men convicted for illegal mining. They include Babangida Saliu, Adamu Sanni, Abdulkarem Salisu, Abdulaziz Lawal, Abdulrahman Babangida, Maharazu Alidu, Zaharadeen Baliue, Babangida Usman, Zayyanu Abdullahi, and Bashir Garuba. Others are Imam Suleman, Abbeh Amisu, Lawani Lurwanu, Yusuf Alhassan, Abdulahi Isah, Zayanu Bello, Habeeb Suleman, Jubrin Sahabi, Shefiu Umar, Seidu Abubakar, Haruna Abubakar, Rabiu Seidu, Macha Kuru, Zahradeen Aminu, Nazipi Musa, Abdullahi Musa, Habibu Safiu, Husseni Sani, Musa Lawali, Suleiman Lawal, Yusuf Iliyasu, Sebiyu Aliyu, Halliru Sani, Shittu Aliyu, Sanusi Aminu, Isiaka Adamu, Mamman Ibrahim, Shuaibu Abdullahi, Sanusi Adamu, Sadi Musa, and Haruna Isah. Notably, Senator Ikra Aliyu Bilbis signed an undertaking to be responsible for the rehabilitation and empowerment of all these convicted illegal miners.

Further beneficiaries of clemency are Abiodun Elemero and Maryam Sanda, who was mentioned earlier among those pardoned.

The third category involves 65 inmates who have had their prison sentences reduced. Among them are Yusuf Owolabi, Ifeanyi Eze, Malam Ibrahim Sulaiman, Shettima Maaji Arfo, Ajasper Benzeger, Ifenna Kennechukwu, Mgbeike Matthew, Patrick Mensah, Obi Edwin Chukwu, Tunde Balogun, and Lima Pereira Erick Diego. Others include Uchegbu Emeka Michael, Salawu Adebayo Samsudeen, Napolo Osariemen, Patricia Echoe Igninovia, Odeyemi Omolaram, Vera Daniel Ifork, Gabriel Juliet Chidimma, Dias Santos Marcia Christiana, Alh. Ibrahim Hameed, and Alh. Nasiru Ogara Adinoyi.

The list continues with Chief Emeka Agbodike, Isaac Justina, Aishat Kehinde, Helen Solomon, Okoye Tochukwu, Ugwueze Paul, Mutsapha Ahmed, Abubakar Mamman, Muhammed Bello Musa, Nnamdi Anene, Alh. Abubakar Tanko, Chisom Francis Wisdom, Innocent Brown Idiong, Iniobong Imaeyen Ntukidem, and Ada Audu.

Also receiving reduced terms are Bukar Adamu, Kelvin Oniarah Ezigbe, Frank Azuekor, Chukwukelu Sunday Calisthus, Professor Magaji Garba, Markus Yusuf, Samson Ajayi, Iyabo Binyoyo, Oladele Felix, Rakiya Beida, Nriagu Augustine Ifeanyi, Chukwudi Destiny, Felix Rotimi Esemokhai, and Major S.A. Akubo.

Further names in this category are John Ibiam, Omoka Aja, Chief Jonathan Alatoru, Umanah Ekaette Umanah, Utom Obong Thomson Udoaka, Jude Saka Ebaragha, Frank Insort Abaka, Shina Alolo, Joshua Iwiki, David Akinseye, Ahmed Toyin, Shobajo Saheed, Adamole Philip, Mathew Masi, and Bright Agbedeyi.

Finally, for seven inmates facing the death penalty, a measure of reprieve was granted as their sentences were commuted to life imprisonment. These individuals are Emmanuel Baba, Emmanuel Gladstone, Moses Ayodele Olurunfemi, Abubakar Usman, Khalifa Umar, Benjamin Ekeze, and Mohammed Umar.

This mass clemency represents one of the most extensive exercises of the presidential prerogative of mercy in recent Nigerian history. It aims to decongest the nation’s prisons, reward rehabilitation, and, most symbolically, offer a form of long-awaited national healing for some of the country’s most painful historical episodes.