President Bola Tinubu has withdrawn the presidential pardon previously granted to Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced to death in 2020 for killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello.
The reversal means Sanda will now serve a total of 12 years in prison, having already spent six years and eight months at Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre.
The decision was made public in an official gazette released by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The document states that Sanda’s sentence was revised on compassionate grounds, considering her conduct in prison, remorse, and the welfare of her children.
The review followed consultations with the Council of State after public criticism of the original pardon.
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, explained that the President ordered a careful reassessment to ensure that only convicts meeting legal and procedural standards would benefit from clemency.
As part of the exercise, some inmates were removed from the pardon list, while others had their sentences adjusted.
The process also led to the relocation of the Secretariat of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy from the Ministry of Special Duties to the Ministry of Justice.
New guidelines for granting clemency, including mandatory consultations with prosecuting agencies, were also issued.
Maryam Sanda’s case had drawn wide criticism when the pardon was first announced.
She was among 175 Nigerians and foreigners granted clemency, including notable figures such as the late activist Ken Saro-Wiwa and members of the “Ogoni Nine.”
Opposition parties and political leaders had condemned the move, arguing it undermined justice and Nigeria’s anti-drug efforts.
The revised list now includes 86 inmates nationwide, whose sentences for offences like homicide, drug trafficking, unlawful mining, financial crimes, and firearms possession were reduced or commuted under Section 175 of the 1999 Constitution.
The vocal Nigerians are the winners for raising eyebrows over the pardon. Their doggedness paved way for the current development. This is a clarion call to the government on the need for them to always do consultation before going public.