A professor of law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Prof. Sabastine Hon (SAN), has pleaded with President Bola Tinubu to grant full posthumous pardon to late Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff, Col. Joseph Akaahan in recognition of his sterling contributions to the Nigerian Army and the nation at large.
In a letter to the President dated October 17, 2025, Hon who wrote as a concern citizen of Benue State, Chronicled the sterling qualities and military profile of the late second Nigeria’s Chief of Army Staff after the then Col. Yakubu Gowon.
Attesting to his brilliant military career and circumstances of his death, the lawyer noted “Owing to his diligence and excellence in professional military service both at home and abroad, Col. Akaahan was appointed the Chief of Army Staff in May, 1967, shortly before the outbreak of the Nigerian civil war.
“In this position, Col. Akaahan was reputed to have been centrally instrumental to the exploits of the Col. Benjamin Adekunle “Operation Sea-borne” operations during the war, even though this is not meant to refresh the collective memories of our ugly past.
The lawyer noted that Col Akaahan ran into trouble when he flew in a military helicopter from the war zone to Gboko, Benue State, for a brief touch with home before proceeding to Lagos
Unfortunately, the lawyer said that in less than twenty kilometers after takeoff to Lagos in the evening of August 6, 1967, the military helicopter crashed and he died instantly.
The Federal Government, according to the New York Times of August 7, 1967, officially announced the death of its then Army Chief, this great Nigerian.
Sebastine Hon explained that the Army authorities felt that Col. Akaahan had embarked upon an ‘unauthorised’ trip to Gboko where he met his untimely death at the young age of 30 years. He was, consequently, posthumously arraigned and summarily dismissed from the Nigerian Army.
He regretted that the dismissal has not been reversed till date, even though the same Army is still proud of his services – by maintaining a large military facility in his favour.
However, in recognition of his contributions to the Nigerian Army and the Federation at large, the Nigerian Army named the Military Cantonment in Makurdi, Benue State, after him, known till date as the Joe Akaahan Military Cantonment, Makurdi.
“The immediate-past Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Labaja of blessed memory, in 2024, visited the Cantonment and unveiled a Military Hospital thereat.
He urged President Tinubu to invoke his constitutional powers under chapter 6 section 157 to extend clemency to late army officer as was recently done to the 175 living and deceased Nigerians.
The late Col. Joseph Akaahan was born on April 12, 1937 to the Akaahan Agbo Kpile Family of Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue State. He attended Government College, Keffi, in today’s Nasarawa State, between 1952 and 1956, where he obtained the Cambridge School Certificate.
He subsequently trained in the officer cadre of the Royal West African Frontier Force (RWAFF) Training School. Teshi, Ghana between 1957 and 1958 and subsequently, the prestigious Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, United Kingdom, between 1958 and 1960.
Upon successful completion of these military and officer-cadre courses, Col. Joe Akaahan was commissioned as an officer in the Nigerian Army on July 23, 1960. Rising through the ranks, Col. Akaahan was constituted as an officer in the Nigerian contingent to the UN Peacekeeping Operations in Congo, in 1966, whereat he performed excellently well.
The letter continued, “Your Excellency, in a State House publication of October 12, 2025, granted presidential pardon to several living and deceased Nigerians, totaling one hundred and seventy-five (175).
On that list are persons convicted as far back as during the colonial administration; those convicted even for heinous crimes like coup plots, internal insurrection, murder, and the like. It is indecorous and disrespectful for me to mention the names of the persons who have fallen under these categories.
In view of the fact that Col. Joseph Akaahan’s offence was dereliction of duty (no matter how labeled by the military high command then), I most humbly and responsibly plead that Your Excellency should kindly extend this hand of state forgiveness, which is steeped in section 175 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, by also granting full posthumous pardon to Col. Joseph Akaahan.
“It is even heartwarming that the Hon. Attorney-General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, who doubles as the Chairman of the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy, announced on October 16, 2025, that the list of pardoned 175 Nigerians is still under “review.” This, then, makes it quite auspicious and timely for this humble request of mine.
Your Excellency shall be greatly blessed if he grants this request. Kindly imagine the joy Your Excellency will bequeath to the immediate family of the pardoned person and Benue State at large, if you extend your kind gesture to Col. Akaahan, ” the letter reads.
