President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the removal of Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced to death in 2020 for the murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, from the list of individuals granted presidential pardon.
The latest directive, sources confirm, forms part of President Tinubu’s effort to ensure that the Presidential Clemency and Prerogative of Mercy process is not extended to individuals convicted of heinous or violent crimes.
Under the reviewed list, persons convicted of kidnapping, drug trafficking, human trafficking, fraud, and illegal possession or trafficking of firearms have all been excluded from benefiting from clemency or sentence reduction.
The Presidency emphasized that the decision aligns with the administration’s commitment to justice, accountability, and national security, ensuring that the pardon system is not abused or perceived as rewarding criminal behavior.
Meanwhile, it was also revealed that some individuals who had been included in earlier drafts of the pardon list will now have their sentences reduced rather than completely waived, following a comprehensive review by the Ministry of Justice and the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy.
Maryam Sanda was convicted and sentenced to death by hanging in 2020 after the Federal Capital Territory High Court found her guilty of killing her husband, the late Bilyaminu Bello, son of former PDP chairman Haliru Bello.
Her removal from the pardon list underscores the Federal Government’s stance that justice for victims of violent crimes must not be compromised under any guise.
