President Bola Tinubu has commuted the death sentence handed Maryam Sanda, who was convicted of killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, to 12 years.
Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who announced this in a statement on Wednesday, said Sanda will “serve 12 years based on compassionate grounds, in the best interest of the Children and good conduct, embraced new lifestyle model prisoner and remorsefulness.”
The President’s decision, which followed public outcry over the clemency and pardon earlier granted to her, and others convicted of serious crimes, could result in Sanda’s release from jail in less than three years.
Recall that Sanda was convicted of culpable homicide in 2020 for killing her husband during a domestic dispute and has since served 6 years 8 months at Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre.
Tinubu also commuted the sentence of 35-year old Haruna Isah, who was convicted of illegal mining, but now commuted “to serve 2 years based on remorsefulness, good conduct and letter of undertaking dated 22nd April 2025 by Senator Ikra Aliyu Bilbis for their rehabilitation and empowerment after release.”
Others are Yusuf Awolabi and Ifeanyi Eze, both convicted of manslaughter and serving a life sentence which was commuted by the president to 15 years respectively.
Also among the 86 name whose sentences were commuted was Mallam Ibrahim Suleiman who was convicted of Robbery and illegal possession of firearms and handed a life sentence, but now to serve 15 years jail time, courtesy of the President’s Prerogative of Mercy.
The new list of beneficiaries of the presidential clemency and pardons follows the revocation of pardons earlier granted to persons convicted of very serious crimes, prompting public outcry.
The Present’s decision to revisit the pardons resonated with Nigerians who described it as a responsible move in the exercise of his presidential authority in that direction.
The move, which is part of a sweeping review of the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy exercise, followed consultations with the Council of State and wide public feedback.
“Certain persons convicted of serious crimes such as kidnapping, drug-related offences, human trafficking, fraud, and unlawful possession of firearms were deleted from the list,” the statement read.
Some others who were previously pardoned will now have their sentences commuted instead of being released outright, in what the Presidency described as a balance between justice, security, and public confidence.
Tinubu said the reversal became necessary “in view of the seriousness and security implications of some of the offences, the need to be sensitive to the feelings of victims and society in general, and to boost the morale of law enforcement agencies.”
He added that his decision was also guided by “the concept of justice as a three-way traffic, for the accused, the victim, and the state.”
The revised list of eligible beneficiaries has been transmitted to the Nigerian Correctional Service for implementation.
Tinubu also carried out a major structural shift by ordering the 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.
He further directed the Attorney-General of the Federation to issue new guidelines that will make consultation with relevant prosecuting agencies compulsory before any future pardon is granted.
According to Onanuga, the move aims to “ensure that only persons who fully meet the stipulated legal and procedural requirements will henceforth benefit from instruments of release.”
President Tinubu also thanked Nigerians for their constructive feedback and reaffirmed his administration’s “broader commitment to judicial reforms and improving the administration of justice in Nigeria.”
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has executed the relevant instruments of release to complete the process of formally exercising his constitutional power of prerogative of mercy to grant pardon and clemency to specific individuals who were earlier convicted for various offences.
“Following consultations with the Council of State and public opinion on the matter, the President directed a further review of the initially approved list for consideration in furtherance of the President’s discretionary powers under Section 175(1)(&(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
“Consequently, certain persons convicted of serious crimes such as kidnapping, drug-related offences, human trafficking, fraud, unlawful possession of firearms/arms dealing, etc, were deleted from the list. Others who had been hitherto pardoned in the old list had their sentences commuted.
“This 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, the need to boost the morale of law enforcement agencies and adherence to bilateral obligations. The concept of justice as a three-way traffic for the Accused, the Victim, and the State/Society also guided the review.
“The approved list of eligible beneficiaries has been transmitted to the Nigerian Correctional Service for implementation in line with the duly signed instruments of release.
“Furthermore, 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 statement read.
