President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reversed the controversial presidential pardon earlier granted to Maryam Sanda, who was convicted in 2020 for the murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello. The President has now commuted her death sentence to a 12-year jail term.
The decision, which comes amid public criticism and widespread backlash over the pardon, was confirmed in an official gazette issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, on Wednesday.
According to the gazette, the President’s action followed a comprehensive review of the case by the Ministry of Justice and the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy. The review reportedly considered the “circumstances surrounding the case, the convict’s conduct while in custody, and public sentiments.”
The document stated that Sanda, who has already served six years and eight months at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre, will now continue to serve out the remainder of her 12-year sentence.
“The President, after due consideration of all factors and recommendations before him, hereby revokes the earlier pardon granted to Maryam Sanda and substitutes the death sentence with a term of twelve (12) years imprisonment,” the gazette read in part.
The move marks a significant reversal of one of the most debated clemency decisions under Tinubu’s administration. Sanda’s initial pardon, which was reportedly approved during a recent National Council of State meeting, sparked outrage among Nigerians who viewed it as a miscarriage of justice and a slight against victims of domestic violence.
Sanda was convicted and sentenced to death by hanging by the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja in January 2020 after she was found guilty of killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, the son of a former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Haliru Bello.
The trial, which drew national attention, revealed that Sanda fatally stabbed her husband during a domestic dispute in their Abuja home in 2017. Her conviction was later upheld by the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, both affirming the death sentence.
Following public outcry over her controversial pardon, human rights groups and women’s rights advocates had called on President Tinubu to rescind the decision, arguing that it undermined the rule of law and set a dangerous precedent.
Sources within the Presidency confirmed that the reversal was influenced by “legal and ethical considerations,” as well as the need to “uphold justice while showing a measure of compassion.”
“The President is committed to ensuring that justice is served but also tempered with fairness and compassion. This review strikes a balance between the demands of justice and the principle of mercy,” a senior aide said.
With the new directive, Sanda is expected to remain in custody until she completes her remaining jail term, barring any future judicial or executive interventions.
