Maryam Sanda to serve 6 additional years in jail, as Tinubu reviews pardon for 86 convicts
Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has reviewed the presidential pardon granted to Maryam Sanda who was sentenced to death in 2020 for killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello.
Based on the review, Sanda is now expected to serve a 12-year jail term including the 6 years already served.
The reversal is coming in the wake of a backlash which met the President’s earlier decision to pardon the subject, and other high-profile convicts.
The current development was contained in an official gazette released on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The gazette stated that Maryam Sanda will now spend six additional years in jail after getting an approved term on compassionate grounds.
“Maryam Sanda, whose offence was culpable homicide, sentenced on 27/01/2020 to death by hanging, has served six years and eight months at the Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC), Suleja, will now serve 12 years based on compassionate grounds,” the statement read, adding that the pardon was also granted for the “best interest of the children” and other social virtues now being displayed by Sanda.
The gazette listed beneficiaries of the reviewed presidential pardon to include: 37-year-old Sanda, Harunah Isah (35), Mamman Ibrahim (50), Sanusi Adamu (28), Sadi Musa 20, Sabiyu Aliyu, Halliru Sani (18), and 79 others.
Similarly, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) said in a press statement that the earlier released presidential pardon has been reviewed following consultations with the Council of State, adding that concerns were expressed to the President on the recommended list which warranted a review.
The statement read: “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. This exercise has been completed and approved by the President. This exercise was to ensure that only persons who met stipulated legal and procedural requirements would benefit from the prerogative of mercy.
“During this final review, 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.
“This exercise underscores the President’s desire to balance justice with compassion and the belief that justice must not only punish, but also reform and redeem. The review was undertaken with meticulous commitment to due process to reinforce the administration’s broader commitment to justice reform and humane correctional practices in line with international standards.”
The statement added that the Secretariat of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy be immediately relocated from the Federal Ministry of Special Duties to the Federal Ministry of Justice.
“To ensure that future exercises meet public expectations and best practices, the President has directed the immediate 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.
“The President has further directed the Attorney-General of the Federation to issue appropriate Guidelines for the Exercise of the Power of Prerogative of Mercy, which includes compulsory consultation with relevant prosecuting agencies.
“This will ensure that only persons who fully meet the stipulated legal and procedural requirements will henceforth benefit from the issuance of instruments of release,” the statement added.
An Abuja high court had on January 27, 2020, sentenced Maryam to death by hanging after she was found guilty of stabbing her husband, Bilyamin Bello, to death at their Abuja residence in 2017.
