Tinubu Grants Posthumous Pardon to Late Major General Mamman Vatsa

The family of Major General Mamman Vatsa has expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Tinubu following the posthumous pardon of the celebrated poet and senior military officer, nearly 39 years after his execution.

Vatsa, executed in 1986 after being convicted by a secret military tribunal for allegedly plotting a coup against then Head of State, General Ibrahim Babangida, was finally cleared through the exercise of presidential clemency, alongside Herbert Macaulay and other notable figures.

In a statement from Minna, Niger State, Jonathan Vatsa, family spokesperson and former state Commissioner for Information, described the pardon as “the greatest moment of relief since the general’s death.”

He said:

“Today is the happiest moment in the life of the family after 39 years of sorrow and sadness following the killing of our late father, brother and uncle. Though nothing can bring him back to life, the family is consoled by this display of statesmanship by our dear president. He has written his name in gold, and history will forever remember him.”


Jonathan emphasized that the family has long maintained Vatsa’s innocence, calling the coup charge a “frame-up” and the trial a “stage-managed process” fueled by envy and hatred. He added:

“Justice can never be denied but can only be delayed. The family is convinced that the late Vatsa must be happy in his grave today by this singular act of compassion by President Tinubu. This goes to show that truth doesn’t expire.”


He also recalled that General Domkat Bali, a member of the military council at the time, had publicly questioned the evidence against Vatsa and whether execution was justified.

While some of Vatsa’s closest relatives, including his wife and several children, are no longer alive to witness the pardon, the surviving family members celebrated being part of this historic moment.

“The family still maintains that the late General Vatsa was innocent of the coup. But we thank President Tinubu for his magnanimity in granting him the state pardon,” Jonathan concluded.

Tinubu Grants Presidential Pardon for Herbert Macaulay,  175 Nigerians

On Thursday, the Council of State approved the exercise of the presidential prerogative of mercy for 175 persons across different categories.

The decision followed a presentation by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), who conveyed President Bola Tinubu’s recommendations based on the report of the Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy during the council meeting held at the State House, Abuja.

Although the full list of beneficiaries is yet to be released, pardons were granted to Herbert Macaulay, Nigeria’s nationalist icon, and Maj.-Gen. Mamman Vatsa (retd.), a former FCT minister, was executed in 1986 under the Babangida regime. Members of the Ogoni Nine and Ogoni Four were also named among the beneficiaries.

Macaulay, regarded as the father of Nigerian nationalism, was twice jailed by the British colonial authorities — in 1913 for alleged fund misappropriation and in 1928 for sedition following his newspaper’s publication during the Eleko of Lagos crisis. Historians have long questioned the fairness of his convictions.

Vatsa, a poet and member of the Supreme Military Council, was executed by firing squad for an alleged coup attempt, a case that has remained controversial for decades, with repeated calls for a posthumous pardon.

Of the 175 approved cases, 82 inmates received full pardons, 65 had their sentences reduced, while seven death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment.

Briefing journalists after the meeting, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State said the decision reflects President Tinubu’s “commitment to justice, fairness, and correctional reform.”

The meeting, chaired by the President, also ratified key appointments, including Dr Aminu Yusuf from Niger State as Chairman of the National Population Commission and Tonge Bularafa as Federal Commissioner representing Yobe State. 

Both nominations were unanimously endorsed.

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday granted presidential pardon to one of Nigeria’s founding fathers, Herbert Macaulay, and former FCT minister in the Babangida regime, Major General Mamman Vatsa (retd).

Senate Proposes 10-Year Passport Ban for Nigerians Convicted Abroad.

The Senate has advanced a bill seeking to impose a 10-year international passport ban on Nigerians convicted of crimes in foreign countries, as part of efforts to protect the nation’s image and tighten passport issuance.

The bill, which scaled second reading on Tuesday, received unanimous support from senators after being put to a voice vote by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

Sponsor of the bill, Senator Babangida Hussaini (Jigawa Northwest), said the measure was necessary to stop non-Nigerians from fraudulently acquiring Nigerian passports and to curb the misuse of the nation’s identity abroad.

“Nigerians of all shades and colours are being disrespected in foreign lands because of the ease of acquiring Nigerian passports,” Hussaini said. “We must reclaim the dignity of the green passport.”

Backing the bill, Akpabio described it as “a bold step to preserve the dignity and integrity of Nigerians.” He recalled a robbery incident in Dubai where suspects were initially identified as Nigerians but were later found to be foreigners using Nigerian passports.

“This bill will tighten passport issuance and ensure that anyone who damages Nigeria’s image abroad faces consequences,” he said, “Any Nigerian who tarnishes our image should not only face imprisonment abroad but also lose their passport for at least 10 years.”

The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on Interior for further legislative action and a public hearing.

If enacted, the legislation will make Nigeria one of the few African nations to penalize citizens convicted abroad with a domestic passport ban — a move lawmakers say will help restore global respect for the Nigerian passport and serve as a deterrent against criminal behavior overseas.

Of tinted glass, Nigeria police and the law.

The Nigeria Police Force is in the news again, for the enforcement of the ban against tinted or shaded glasses in motor cars. On April 25, 2025, the police announced its intention to compel the procurement of a written permit on all cars with tinted glasses. Although no cogent reason has been proffered for the implementation of this policy inherited as part of the military invasion of our political space, it would seem from all indications that the goal is that of revenue generation. The challenge with this is that Nigerians have been taxed and overtaxed and if the rationale behind the current tax reform laws is to harmonise all taxes, then there has to be a rethink of this policy by the police.

THE LAW AGAINST TINTED OR SHADED MOTOR GLASSES

On 8th February 1991, the federal military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida (Retd) enacted the Motor Vehicles (Prohibition of Tinted Glass) Decree 1991, in the following terms:

“The Federal Military Government hereby decrees as follows:

1. (1) Except with the permission of the appropriate authority designated for the purposes of this Decree and for such good cause as may be determined from time to time by the appropriate authority, no person shall cause any glass fitted on a motor vehicle to be-

(a) tinted; or (b) shaded; or (c) coloured lightly or thickly (d) darkened; or (e) treated in any other way, so that the persons or objects in the motor vehicle are rendered obscure or invisible.

(2) In this section, “good cause” means health or security reasons.

2. (l) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any law, rule of law, enactment or the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1979, as amended, any person who without the permission of the appropriate authority-

Primate Ayodele Predicts IBB’s Support for Jonathan Over Tinubu Ahead of 2027

The Leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Primate Elijah Ayodele, has released another prophecy concerning Nigeria’s political future as the 2027 general elections draw closer.

In his latest revelation, the cleric declared:

“Babangida isn’t supporting you, Tinubu, but he’s going to support Goodluck Jonathan.”

According to Ayodele, former military president General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) will play a quiet but decisive role in shaping political alignments, and his loyalty will not rest with the incumbent president.

He explained that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, despite being in power, will encounter opposition from influential figures dissatisfied with his style of governance. On the other hand, Ayodele claimed that Goodluck Jonathan will enjoy unusual backing from some political godfathers, including Babangida, who still holds sway in Nigeria’s power structure.

The cleric further cautioned Tinubu against relying solely on political machinery, noting that “unseen forces” are already working against him. Instead, he urged the president to prioritize genuine economic reforms to ease the nation’s hardship, stressing that performance, not alliances, will determine his political survival.

Ayodele also emphasized that Jonathan’s name will continue to resurface in Nigeria’s political discourse, whether or not he personally seeks a return to office. According to him, many powerful figures still see Jonathan as a stabilizing force within Nigeria’s fragile democracy.

This latest prophecy has reignited debates about Jonathan’s possible return to frontline politics and the behind-the-scenes influence of elder statesmen in shaping Nigeria’s leadership path.

Even Babangida, Abacha Never Tried This” – Akinnola Slams IGP Over SaharaReporters Account Freeze

Journalist and lawyer Richard Akinnola has condemned IGP Kayode Egbetokun for securing a court order to probe and freeze the accounts of Omoyele Sowore & SaharaReporters over alleged terrorism financing and money laundering.

He described the move as “unprecedented in democracy”, stressing that even under the military juntas of Babangida and Abacha, security agencies never attempted such against the media.

Akinnola questioned why notorious terrorists like Bello Turji roam freely while the police target journalists, warning that the action casts the Tinubu govt in bad light and smacks of a personal vendetta.

The Abuja Federal High Court has ordered six banks—including UBA, GTB, Zenith, Opay, Moniepoint, and Kuda—to release financial records of Sowore and SaharaReporters from Jan 2024 till date.

#Nigeria #PressFreedom #IGPEgbetokun #Tinubu

Top 10 Richest Politicians in Nigeria (2025 Estimates)

1. Bola Ahmed Tinubu – $7–$8.4 Billion
2. Ibrahim Babangida (IBB) – $5 Billion
3. Atiku Abubakar – $1.4–$3 Billion
4. Ifeanyi Ubah – $1.7 Billion
5. Olusegun Obasanjo – $1.6 Billion
6. Rochas Okorocha – $1.4 Billion
7. Orji Uzor Kalu – $1.1 Billion
8. Dino Melaye – $800 Million
9. Rotimi Amaechi – $780 Million

IBB not statesman, stop lying to yourself Farotimi counters Adesina.

Human rights activist and lawyer, Dele Farotimi, has faulted the description of former military president, Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (rtd), as a statesman.

Farotimi, in a post on X on Tuesday, said celebrating Babangida with such titles only helps to normalize the “evils” he claimed the former leader visited on Nigerians.

“Not telling these ruinous cretins exactly what they are, contributes towards the normalization of the evils that they have visited on the people, and this mutual affirmation strategy is what has helped to sustain the evil. IBB is no statesman, and you can stop lying to yourself,” he wrote.

His reaction followed a congratulatory message by the former president of the African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, who had hailed Babangida as one of Nigeria’s “foremost elder-statesmen” in a birthday tribute.

Adesina praised the former Head of State’s “patriotic fervor, devotion and commitment to Nigeria’s peace, unity and progress,” while wishing him continued good health as he marked his 84th birthday.

DAILY POST reported that Babangida, who ruled Nigeria from 1985 to 1993, celebrated his 84th birthday recently.

#fintternews #farotimicounteradesina

NDLEA arrests 52 year old mother and son for distributing 298 blocs of c+nnabis.

In Lagos, a 52-year-old woman, Muyibat Mumuni, and her 25-year-old son, Faruk Mumuni, were arrested at Ladega Street, Mushin, on Wednesday, August 13, for storing and distributing 298 blocks of Ghana Loud c+nnabis weighing 149kg.

In a related operation in Ajah, Emmanuel Samuel was nabbed on Friday, August 15, after 8.5kg of Canadian Lo¥d c+nnabis was recovered from his apartment. Gombe State saw the arrest of Sani Mohammed, 32, at Jauro Jatau on Monday, August 11, with 128,000 caps¥les of tr@madol.

Similarly, in Kogi State, NDLEA operatives intercepted a commercial bus along the Okene-Lokoja highway, driven by Sulaiman Oyedokun, 47. A search revealed 337,800 tram@dol capsules being transported from Onitsha, Anambra State, to Kontagora, Niger State. In Taraba State, officers raided Tanmiya Forest in Sardauna LGA on Tuesday, August 12, destroying 4.5 hectares of farmland cultivating 11,250kg of c+nnabis.

Days later, 29,840 tr@madol caps¥les were seized from Saleh Babangida, 20, at a checkpoint in Wukari. Kaduna State witnessed several arrests: Mohammed Amdife, 46, and Sulaiman Mohammed, 22, were caught with 22,640 pills of tr@madol and roh¥pnol at checkpoints in Zaria and Tudun Wada.

Meanwhile, Caroline David, 51, and Abdulhadi Umar, 30, were intercepted with 111.1kg of c+nnabis along the Zaria-Kano Road. In Edo State, NDLEA officers recovered 432kg of c+nnabis from 24 bags along Warake-Auchi Road in Etsako West LGA on Wednesday, August 13, and 130kg from a warehouse in Sobe, Owan West LGA, the following day.

Kano State arrests included Tahiru Madu Manga, 25, with 16kg of c+nnabis along the Zaria-Kano Road and Ibrahim Audu, 47, with 76kg at Gadar Tamburawa on Wednesday, August 13. According to Femi Babafemi, NDLEA Director of Media and Advocacy, the arrests and seizures are part of ongoing nationwide operations targeting c+nnabis, opi%ids, and other illicit substances to curb dr¥g abus£ and tr+fficking.

Oshiomhole Reflects: How Babangida Surprised Him With a Remark About His Late Wife

Senator Adams Oshiomhole, representing Edo North, has opened up about a memorable encounter during his days as a labour activist — one that left a lasting impression on him.

In a video shared by Symfoni TV, Oshiomhole recalled a visit to the Presidential Villa during General Ibrahim Babangida’s regime. A seven-man labour delegation, led by then-NLC president Pascal Bafyau, had gone to meet with the military ruler.

According to Oshiomhole, Babangida stunned him by not only commenting on his posture — saying, “Oh Adam, you walk like a military officer” — but also asking after his late wife, Clara.

The senator admitted he was shocked by the military leader’s awareness of such personal details, noting that it revealed how much those in power knew about their challengers.

Reflecting on his time in the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Oshiomhole emphasized that his activism went beyond agitation. It was about courage, conviction, and the sacrifices of labour leaders who risked everything to secure the democratic space Nigerians enjoy today.

Oshiomhole, a former Edo State governor and ex-NLC president, said the encounter reinforced his belief in leadership that prioritizes service and responsibility to the people.

#AdamsOshiomhole #Babangida #LabourMovement #NigeriaDemocracy #Leadership

Jonathan Meets IBB & Abdulsalami in Abuja Amid Ongoing National Consultations

Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan on Sunday paid a courtesy visit to former Nigerian heads of state, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) and General Abdulsalami Abubakar, at their Abuja residence.

The closed-door meeting reportedly lasted several hours, though details have not been made public. Jonathan, known for his consistent calls for dialogue and consultation in tackling Nigeria’s challenges, is believed to have used the visit as part of his wider engagement with elder statesmen across the country.

Generals Abdulsalami and Babangida remain towering figures in Nigerian politics. Abdulsalami is revered for ushering in the Fourth Republic in 1999, while Babangida remains a key voice in national discourse, having ruled between 1985 and 1993.

Jonathan, who governed from 2010 to 2015, has maintained regular contact with past leaders, fostering discussions on unity, governance, and peace. His Abuja visit once again highlights the tradition of former leaders consulting one another to strengthen national stability.

#GoodluckJonathan #IBB #Abdulsalami #NigeriaPolitics #Leadership #Unity #NationBuilding

Nigerian Police Detain Bauchi Youth Leader Over Criticism of LGA Chairman
Usman Sabo, a youth leader in Shira LGA, Bauchi State, has been in police custody since August 7 after criticising LGA Chairman Babangida Ishaq over delayed funds for the Shira Youth Football Team. His arrest followed a Facebook post highlighting the funding delay, which caused the team to forfeit a match. Civil society group White Cap Movement condemned the detention as a violation of his constitutional rights and urged his immediate release.

#Bauchi #Police #YouthLeader #FreeSpeech

2027: Jonathan Set to Run for Presidency, Says PDP Ally.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan is preparing to contest the 2027 presidential election, a close ally within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has revealed.

According to the source, the plan to draft the Bayelsa-born former leader back into the race is already well advanced, and Jonathan has agreed to run under the PDP platform.

The move, the ally said, is being championed by influential political figures and elder statesmen who believe Jonathan’s return could help tackle rising p%verty, economic hardship, and widespread s¥ffering across the country. Supporters of the initiative argue that Jonathan brought stability and economic progress during his six years in office, and believe his return offers a chance to rescue Nigeria from its current challenges.

They are also reportedly positioning his candidacy as a transitional option, since Jonathan can legally serve only one more four-year term.

This, they believe, would pave the way for power to return to the North in 2031, potentially allowing an uninterrupted eight-year northern presidency. The source disclosed that Jonathan has already held private consultations with prominent national figures, both within and outside the PDP.

Notably, he recently met with former military President Ibrahim Babangida at his Minna residence to discuss his plans. Although Babangida’s response was not disclosed, the ally expressed confidence that the proposal has gained traction in the North.

Meanwhile, Jonathan is said to be actively engaging political stakeholders in the South-South region, seeking their endorsement and backing ahead of a formal announcement. If confirmed, Jonathan’s return would set the stage for a high-profile rematch against President Bola Tinubu in the next general election.

Zamfara monarch kidnapped after deadly airstrike kills dozens of bandits.

Armed bandits have kidnapped the traditional ruler of Yankuzo, Alhaji Babangida Kogo, in Zamfara State, just hours after a deadly Nigerian Air Force (NAF) strike killed many bandits in the same area.

The monarch was reportedly abducted on Tuesday evening near the Mararraba area in Tsafe Local Government. Sources say he was trying to flee the community due to fears that surviving bandits might retaliate.

Eyewitnesses told Zagazola Makama that a large group of armed men on more than 10 motorcycles ambushed the monarch and his escort near the abandoned farmland of the late Alhaji Malami Yandoto.

The attackers seized the royal father and left the others behind.

This incident happened shortly after the NAF’s air component under Operation Hadarin Daji carried out a precision strike on a bandit gathering in the forest between Yankuzo and Munhaye.

Intelligence had revealed that dozens of fighters, likely gathered for a wedding or celebration, were assembling in the area.

According to military sources, the strike killed many of the armed men and left others badly injured.

It is believed that the gathering involved fighters loyal to infamous bandit leaders operating along the Tsafe, Zurmi corridor, with some reportedly coming from forests in Katsina and Sokoto states.

President Tinubu appoints, Gen. IBB’s son, Muhammad Babangida as head of the restructured Bank of Agriculture.

Man flees after killing wife with machete in Yobe.

The Yobe State Police Command has confirmed that a 55-year-old man, Hamidu Ali, attacked and killed his 40-year-old wife with a machete in Babangida, Tarmuwa Local Government Area of the state.

The state command’s spokesperson, Dungus Abdulkarim, who disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, said the incident occurred on Friday morning.

“On June 28, 2025, at about 11 a.m., Tarmuwa Divisional Police Headquarters received a distress call from inhabitants of Koriyel Village, Babangida, Tarmuwa LGA, indicating that Hamidu Ali, 55, attacked and macheted his wife, 40, to death for unknown reasons and fled,” the statement read.

He added that police operatives were currently on the trail of the suspect.

Efforts are underway to apprehend the suspect,” Abdulkarim said.

In a related case, the command said two men had been arrested for allegedly killing a victim over accusations of phone theft in Fika Local Government Area.

PRESIDENT TINUBU DELIVERS FIRST STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS ON JUNE 12

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will at 10:00 a.m. today, deliver his first State of the Nation address before a joint session of the National Assembly.

This is in commemoration of this year’s Democracy Day.

The event marks the anniversary of the June 12, 1993 presidential election—widely regarded as the freest and fairest in Nigeria’s history—which was controversially annulled by the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida.

President Tinubu’s address to federal lawmakers is expected to focus on national priorities, democratic progress, and the overall state of governance under his administration.

June 12 was declared Democracy Day by former President Muhammadu Buhari, replacing May 29 as the official date for commemorating Nigeria’s return to civil rule. Buhari also posthumously recognised Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, the presumed winner of the 1993 poll, as President, and conferred on him the nation’s highest honour—the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic (GCFR).

Abiola, a business mogul had declared himself president in 1994 at Epetedo, Lagos, after months of failed attempts to reclaim his mandate. He was arrested, charged with treason, and died in detention on July 7, 1998.

To give more value to today’s occasion, the Federal Government announced the cancellation of the traditional military parade.

"The person wey build am no name am after himself" – Isaac Fayose says as he calls out Nyesom Wike and President Tinubu for spending ₦39bn to renovate the ICC Abuja, originally built by Babangida for ₦240m in 1991.

Mokwa Flood Disaster Is Ordained By God And Beyond Our Control – Ex-Military Dictator Babangida