President Bola Tinubu has approved a presidential pardon for Nigeria’s nationalist hero, Herbert Macaulay, alongside 174 other individuals, under the Prerogative of Mercy initiative.
The announcement was made following the Council of State meeting held on Thursday, October 5, 2025, at the State House in Abuja. The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, presented the recommendation to the Council, which gave its support to the president’s decision.
Herbert Macaulay, who is widely regarded as the father of Nigerian nationalism, was granted a posthumous pardon over 100 years after he was convicted by British colonial authorities in Lagos.
Macaulay, born in 1864, was a trained surveyor and political activist who fought for the rights of Nigerians during British colonial rule. In 1913, he was convicted of misappropriating funds from an estate he managed in his private practice. He was again convicted later during his activism years. While these convictions were recorded by the colonial government, many historians and scholars have long questioned their fairness, suggesting that Macaulay was targeted for his growing influence and opposition to colonial policies.
The presidential pardon symbolically clears his name and is seen as a gesture of national reconciliation and historical justice.
“This decision is part of President Tinubu’s commitment to fairness, justice, and healing,” the Attorney-General said during the presentation.
In addition to Macaulay, 174 other Nigerians were also granted pardons. These include individuals serving prison terms, some who are terminally ill, elderly prisoners, and those who have shown remorse and good behavior while incarcerated.
The Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy had reviewed each case before making recommendations to the president. The Committee operates under constitutional provisions that allow the president to grant clemency to deserving individuals.
