PRESIDENT Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reversed the controversial presidential pardon earlier granted to Maryam Sanda, the woman convicted for killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, in their Abuja home in 2017.
The President has now commuted her death sentence to 12 years imprisonment, a decision that will see her spend about six additional years in custody.
News Point Nigeria earlier reported that Sanda, 37, has been dropped from the list of beneficiaries of presidential pardon after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved an amended version of the Clemency and Prerogative of Mercy list earlier forwarded for implementation.
But according to an updated official presidential gazette sighted by News Point Nigeria on Wednesday, Sanda who has already served six years and eight months at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre following her death sentence in January 2020, was granted a reduced prison term on “compassionate grounds” after a fresh review.
The gazette reads: “Maryam Sanda… has served six years and eight months at the Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC), Suleja, and will now serve 12 years based on compassionate grounds, in the best interest of the children and good conduct, embraced a new lifestyle, model prisoner and remorsefulness.”
She now falls under the “reduced terms” category in the revised pardon list approved under Section 175 of the 1999 Constitution.
Aside Sanda, 84 other convicts including Harunah Isah (35), Mamman Ibrahim (50), Sanusi Adamu (28), and Sabiyu Aliyu were also granted sentence reduction.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, confirmed in a press statement that the clemency list was thoroughly reviewed following concerns raised by the Council of State, civil society groups, and political leaders.
Fagbemi said many Nigerians questioned the morality of granting mercy to persons convicted of grave offences, such as murder and drug trafficking.
“Few persons earlier recommended were found not to have met the necessary requirements and were accordingly delisted, while in some other cases, sentences were reviewed and reduced to reflect fairness, justice, and the spirit of the exercise.”
He added that President Tinubu intended to balance justice with compassion while maintaining public confidence in the correctional system.
Fagbemi said the move aligns with international best practices and strengthens accountability in the justice system.
Sanda’s conviction remains one of Nigeria’s most widely followed domestic homicide cases.
