President Bola Tinubu has withdrawn the presidential pardon previously granted to Maryam Sanda, who was convicted in 2020 for the murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello.
The decision was announced following a review of the clemency list submitted to the Presidency, with the President directing that individuals convicted of heinous crimes such as murder, armed robbery, and kidnapping be excluded from executive pardon.
Sanda, whose death sentence was earlier commuted to 12 years imprisonment, has already served six years and eight months at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre in Niger State. She is now expected to complete the remainder of her sentence.
Presidential Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, said the President’s directive was aimed at restoring public confidence in the justice system and ensuring that clemency is not extended to convicts whose crimes threaten public safety.
“The President has ordered the relocation of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy to the Ministry of Justice, and directed that future recommendations must involve consultations with relevant law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies,” Onanuga stated.
He added that the President’s decision reflects a commitment to justice, national security, and the rule of law.
Maryam Sanda was convicted by a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja for stabbing her husband to death during a domestic dispute in 2017. Her conviction drew widespread public attention and debate over gender-based violence and judicial accountability.
