In a dramatic reversal of his earlier clemency move, President Bola Tinubu has revoked the pardon granted to Maryam Sanda and ordered that she serve six years imprisonment instead. The decision effectively annuls the pardon that had sparked widespread controversy.
Maryam Sanda was originally convicted in 2020 for culpable homicide after fatally stabbing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello. She had been on death row, having spent over six years in custody, before President Tinubu’s earlier pardon granted her clemency along with 174 other convicts.
The pardon triggered strong backlash from many quarters. Critics argued that including a capital offender among the beneficiaries diluted the rule of law and disrespected victims’ families.
Under the new directive, Sanda’s pardon has been revoked and her sentence reinstated for six years behind bars. The move appears to be a response to public pressure and moral outcry, as well as a correction to the earlier clemency exercise.
Tinubu directed a comprehensive review of the earlier recommendations under Section 175(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). As a result, several individuals convicted of serious crimes — including kidnapping, drug trafficking, human trafficking, fraud, and unlawful arms possession — were removed from the list.
Others who had been granted full pardons in the previous list saw their sentences commuted instead, reflecting what the presidency described as a “balanced approach to justice.”
“The action became necessary in view of the seriousness and security implications of some of the offences, the need to be sensitive to the feelings of the victims of the crimes and society in general, and the need to boost the morale of law enforcement agencies,” the statement read.
It added that Tinubu’s decision was guided by “the concept of justice as a three-way traffic for the accused, the victim, and the state or society.”
The approved list of eligible beneficiaries has since been transmitted to the Nigerian Correctional Service for implementation.
