According to report, Vatsa was sentenced to death over a treason charge in 1986, Macaulay was twice convicted by the colonial authorities in Lagos.

In 1913, while in private practice as a surveyor, he was tried for allegedly misappropriating funds from an estate he administered and sentenced to prison; historians have long debated the fairness of that prosecution.

Vatsa, a poet, was among the 17 people who received presidential pardons following the endorsement of the National Council of State on Thursday in Abuja.

President Tinubu also pardoned four former convicts, including former House of Representatives member, Farouk Lawan, Anastasia Daniel Nwaobia, Barrister Hussaini Umar and Ayinla Saadu Alanamu.

They were pardoned to enable them to integrate into society, having demonstrated sufficient remorse. Nweke Francis Chibueze, serving a life sentence for cocaine, was pardoned, along with Dr Nwogu Peters, who had served 12 out of his 17-year sentence for fraud.

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The Ogoni Nine: Ken Saro Wiwa, Saturday Dobee, Nordu Eawo, Daniel Gbooko, Paul Levera, Felix Nuate, Baribor Bera, Barinem Kiobel and John Kpuine were formally pardoned. At the same time, the President awarded national honours to the Ogoni Four- Chief Albert Badey, Chief Edward Kobani, Chief Samuel Orage, and Theophilus Orage.

He gave a reprieve for seven inmates on the death row by commuting their sentences to life imprisonment.

Source: Channels