Tinubu Honours Herbert Macaulay, Frees 174 in Nationwide Pardon

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has granted a Presidential Pardon of 175 individuals, including Nigeria’s foremost Nationalist, Herbert Macaulay, in a move the Presidency described as part of efforts to promote National healing and justice reform.

The announcement was made on Thursday after the Council of State meeting held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where the list of beneficiaries was presented and approved.

According to the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), the clemency followed recommendations from the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy, which reviewed cases of convicts, ex-convicts, and notable historical figures.

Fagbemi explained that the inclusion of Herbert Macaulay — who died in 1946 — was symbolic, aimed at honouring his role in Nigeria’s independence struggle and correcting historical records.

“The pardon reflects the President’s commitment to justice, fairness, and the recognition of individuals whose legacies contributed to the making of our nation,” the minister said.

Among the other beneficiaries are long-serving inmates who have shown good conduct, elderly convicts with critical health conditions, and individuals recommended for amnesty on humanitarian grounds.

The Government said the gesture aligns with President Tinubu’s broader justice reform initiative and the administration’s resolve to decongest correctional facilities across the Country.

The latest pardon follows similar exercises conducted in previous administrations to uphold Nigeria’s constitutional provision on the prerogative of mercy.