President Bola Tinubu has reversed the presidential pardon earlier granted to Maryam Sanda, who was convicted in 2020 for the murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, the son of a former Peoples Democratic Party chairman, Haliru Bello.
This decision was made public through an official gazette released on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. The document stated that the President’s latest action followed widespread public criticism that trailed the initial pardon.
According to the gazette, Sanda’s death sentence has now been commuted to a six-year jail term, taking into account the period she has already spent in detention.
Okay News reports that Sanda has served six years and eight months at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre since her conviction by the Federal Capital Territory High Court. The latest directive now formalizes her continued incarceration under a revised term approved on compassionate grounds.
President Tinubu’s decision comes amid his administration’s broader review of clemency cases involving convicts previously pardoned for violent and drug-related crimes. The Presidency emphasized that the move aligns with the government’s renewed commitment to justice, accountability, and the preservation of public confidence in the rule of law.
Further details on the implementation of the revised sentence are expected to be announced by the Federal Ministry of Justice.
