President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has granted a series of presidential pardons, including posthumous clemency for notable historical figures such as Mamman Jiya Vatsa and Herbert Macaulay.
In a statement issued by the Office of the President, the pardons were conferred under the constitutional power of clemency (Prerogative of Mercy) vested in the President by Section 175 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The decision follows a review by the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, which assesses applications and recommends candidates for clemency. The committee was inaugurated earlier in the year. ([Naija News][1])
Among the beneficiaries, Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni Nine had previously received posthumous pardons under Tinubu as part of prior clemency actions.
The pardons for Vatsa and Macaulay are seen by observers as symbolic steps toward reconciling historical injustices and rehabilitating the legacies of figures who played prominent roles in Nigeria’s past.
The statement did not immediately clarify whether other living individuals benefited or the full list of pardonees.
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Analysts suggest that these clemencies may also carry political and cultural significance, reflecting efforts by the government to address public calls for restorative justice.
The government’s announcement has sparked reactions from civil society, historians, and parts of the populace, with some hailing the move as overdue, while others question the timing and criteria used.
