President Bola Tinubu has granted a full presidential pardon to the late environmental rights activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other Ogoni men, collectively known as the Ogoni Nine.
Tinubu announced the pardon for these nine individuals, whom he described as “national heroes,” while exercising his powers under the Prerogative of Mercy during an address to a joint session of the National Assembly in commemoration of Democracy Day on Thursday.
He also stated that other individuals, whose names would be announced later in conjunction with the National Council of State, would also receive presidential pardons.
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Additionally, President Tinubu conferred posthumous national honors on Saro-Wiwa, awarding him the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), and his eight kinsmen with the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).3 The eight others are: Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel, and John Kpuine.
Tinubu stated, “Furthermore, I also confer posthumous national honours on Ken Saro Wiwa (CON), the leader of the Ogoni Nine, and his fellow travellers, Saturday Dobee (OON), Nordu Eawo (OON), Daniel Gbooko (OON), Paul Levera (OON), Felix Nuate (OON), Baribor Bera (OON), Barinem Kiobel (OON), and John Kpuine (OON).
I shall also be exercising my powers under the prerogative of mercy to grant these national heroes a full pardon, together with others whose names shall be announced later in conjunction with the National Council of State.”
Saro-Wiwa and his colleagues were accused of murder by the administration of the late Head of State, Sani Abacha, and subsequently executed in 1995.
Their execution drew widespread condemnation from civil society organizations and the international community.
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