President Tinubu Grants Posthumous Pardon to Ken Saro-Wiwa and the Ogoni Nine

In a landmark decision, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has granted a full presidential pardon to the late environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight other members of the Ogoni Nine, nearly three decades after their controversial execution under the military regime of General Sani Abacha.

The announcement was made during a joint sitting of the National Assembly as part of the Democracy Day celebrations. In addition to the pardon, President Tinubu conferred posthumous national honors on the Ogoni Nine, recognizing their contributions to environmental justice and human rights advocacy.

The Ogoni Nine—Ken Saro-Wiwa, Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel, and John Kpuine—were executed in 1995 after being accused of murder, a charge widely condemned as politically motivated. Their deaths sparked global outrage, leading to sanctions against Nigeria from the Commonwealth, the United States, Canada, and other Western nations.