President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially revoked the presidential pardon earlier granted to Maryam Sanda, who was convicted and sentenced to death in 2020 for the murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, son of a prominent political figure.
The reversal, which has drawn wide attention nationwide, comes barely weeks after Sanda’s name appeared among beneficiaries of Tinubu’s first Presidential Prerogative of Mercy list. The initial pardon had stirred widespread outrage, with critics arguing that it was unjust to pardon a high-profile murder convict whose case had become symbolic of gender-based violence and the failure of justice for victims of domestic crime.
According to an official gazette released on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the president reviewed the clemency and ordered that Sanda’s sentence be commuted to 12 years imprisonment, taking into account her time already served.
The document stated that Sanda, who has so far spent six years and eight months at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre, will now serve approximately six additional years before regaining freedom.
The gazette titled “Reduced Terms” explained that Sanda’s death sentence was converted to a 12-year term “on compassionate grounds”, considering her good conduct, remorse, and the best interest of her two children.
It read in part:
“Maryam Sanda, whose offence was culpable homicide and was sentenced to death by hanging on 27 January 2020, having served six years and eight months at the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Suleja, will now serve 12 years based on compassionate grounds, good behaviour, and remorsefulness.”
The gazette also listed 86 other convicts who benefited from various forms of clemency, including Harunah Isah (35), Mamman Ibrahim (50), Sanusi Adamu (28), Sadi Musa (20), Sabiyu Aliyu, and Halliru Sani (18), among others.
The action was taken in accordance with Section 175 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which empowers the president to grant pardons and reduce sentences upon the advice of the Council of State.
Confirming the development, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), issued a press statement noting that the president initiated a due process review after receiving concerns from members of the public and the Council of State regarding the earlier pardon list.
He explained that the president’s decision to reverse and revise certain pardons, including that of Maryam Sanda, was based on a comprehensive evaluation of the eligibility criteria and public interest.
Fagbemi said:
“It is to be recalled that following consultations with the Council of State, the President received concerns on the recommended list and consequently initiated a due process review.
During this final review, some persons earlier recommended were found not to have met the necessary requirements and were delisted, while others had their sentences adjusted to reflect fairness, justice, and the spirit of the exercise.”
He further emphasized that the president’s approach sought to balance justice with compassion, ensuring that rehabilitation and reform remained central to Nigeria’s correctional philosophy.
The statement from the Justice Ministry highlighted President Tinubu’s determination to strengthen Nigeria’s justice system through fairness, transparency, and compassion. It described the pardon review as part of the administration’s broader effort to ensure that the power of mercy is exercised responsibly and lawfully.
Fagbemi disclosed that the president has ordered the relocation of the Secretariat of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy from the Federal Ministry of Special Duties to the Federal Ministry of Justice, to enhance due diligence and oversight.
“The President has further directed the Attorney-General of the Federation to issue appropriate guidelines for future exercises of the power of prerogative of mercy,” Fagbemi said.
“This will include compulsory consultation with relevant prosecuting agencies to ensure only those who meet the stipulated legal and procedural requirements will benefit from such clemency.”
The earlier pardon granted to Sanda sparked fierce public criticism, with opposition parties, civil society groups, and human rights advocates accusing the presidency of insensitivity and moral compromise.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) were among those who condemned the clemency list, describing it as a “grave setback to Nigeria’s anti-corruption and anti-drug campaign.”
Atiku had argued that granting freedom to convicted murderers and drug traffickers under the guise of clemency was a “dangerous affront to justice and morality.”
Sanda’s case, in particular, drew strong emotional reactions, with many Nigerians recalling the high-profile murder trial that captured national attention in 2020. The court had found her guilty of killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, after a domestic dispute a crime that led to her death sentence by hanging.
While some Nigerians have praised the president for reconsidering the pardon, others argue that reducing Sanda’s sentence still undermines the gravity of her crime and the justice owed to the victim’s family.
Supporters of the decision, however, insist that the commutation reflects compassion and reform, acknowledging that the convict has shown remorse and maintained good conduct in custody.
As the debate continues, legal analysts view the move as a test of President Tinubu’s commitment to justice reform balancing the rule of law, compassion, and public accountability.
With this latest decision, the administration signals a shift toward stricter evaluation of clemency requests and a clearer commitment to ensuring that presidential mercy remains a tool of redemption, not privilege.
