Tinubu Pardons Faruk Lawan, Vatsa, 82 Inmates
Major General Mamman Jiya Vatsa, sentenced to death over plot to overthrow the government of military leader General Ibrahim Babangida in 1986, has received a posthumous pardon from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Vatsa, a poet and former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), was among the 17 people who received presidential pardons following the endorsement of the National Council of State, which met in Abuja on Thursday.
President Tinubu also granted a posthumous pardon to Herbert Macaulay, a Nigerian nationalist and co-founder, along with Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, of the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (NCNC).
Macaulay was NCNC’s first president, a leading political party that played pivotal role in Nigeria’s struggle for independence. However, in 1913, Macaulay was unjustly convicted by the British colonialists and banned from public office. Macaulay died in 1946, but the stigma of being an ex-convict was not exorcised from his records until now.
President Tinubu also pardoned four former convicts, including former House of Representatives member, Farouk Lawan, who had fully served his prison terms after he was convicted of receiving bribe from business mogul Femi Odetola. others are Mrs Anastasia Daniel Nwaobia, Barrister Hussaini Umar and Ayinla Saadu Alanamu.
According to the Presidency, they were pardoned to enable them to integrate into the society, having demonstrated sufficient remorse.
Similarly, Nweke Francis Chibueze, serving a life sentence for cocaine, was also pardoned, along with Dr Nwogu Peters, who had served 12 out of his 17-year sentence for fraud.
The Ogoni activist who were executed by the military administration of late General Sani Abatcha for economic sabotage, were also pardoned.
They are late Ken Saro Wiwa, Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel and John Kpuine.
In addition, the President conferred national honours on four Ogoni chiefs – Albert Badey, Edward Kobani, Samuel Orage, and Theophilus Orage.
In a related development, President Tinubu in exercise of his constitutional power of mercy, has granted clemency to 82 prison inmates and reduced the prison terms of 65 others. He also approve reprieve for seven inmates on death row, commuting their sentences to life imprisonment.
President Tinubu’s action was based on the recommendations of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy.
The 12-member committee has the Attorney General and Justice Minister, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, as chairman, with Chief Akinlolu Olujinmi, Prof. Alkasum Abba, Prof. Nike Y. Sidikat Ijaiya, and Justice Augustine B. Utsaha, as members while Dr Onwusoro Maduka, a former Permanent Secretary, is the Secretary of the committee.
The committee also has the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs as member, and representatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Correctional Service, National Human Rights Commission, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, and Christian Association of Nigeria.
The committee’s final report was presented to the Council of State on Thursday in Abuja, as required by the constitution.
The report noted that, “A total of 175 inmates were interviewed, and 62 applications were received on behalf of 119 inmates considered by the committee, making it a total of 294.
“One hundred and sixty of the inmates interviewed were male, while 15 were female. Eighty-two inmates were recommended for clemency; two (2) for pardon; sixty-five (65) inmates for reduction of their terms of imprisonment, and seven (7) inmates on death row for commutation to life imprisonment.
“Also, fifteen (15) ex-convicts were recommended for Presidential Pardon, eleven (11) of them are deceased (including Ogoni 9). The Ogoni four (4) were also recommended for the Post-Humous National Honours Award.
“On the whole, a total of one hundred and seventy-five (175) beneficiaries are recommended.’’
The committee considered those from 60 years and above; ill health likely to terminate in death; young persons of 16 years and below; long-term convicts who have served prison terms of 10 years or more with a good record; and convicts serving three years or more.
“Those who have been in Custodial centres, learnt sustainable vocational trades capable of keeping them away from crime; those who are adjudged remorseful; those who Correctional Officers recommended for exemplary behaviour and Nigerian prisoners deported from other countries.”
