Cynthia Ezegwu
President Bola Tinubu has revoked the presidential pardon earlier granted to Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced to death in 2020 for the murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, and has instead commuted her sentence to 12 years’ imprisonment.
The decision followed widespread public backlash that trailed her inclusion in the recent presidential pardon list approved at the National Council of State meeting earlier in October.
According to an official gazette released on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Sanda’s new sentence was approved on compassionate grounds.
The gazette stated that Sanda, who has already spent six years and eight months at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre, will serve the remainder of her term in prison.
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The development comes amid growing scrutiny of the presidential clemency process and President Tinubu’s directive to review the list of beneficiaries previously granted pardon.
Further details are expected to be made public by the Presidency.