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President Bola Tinubu has annulled the presidential pardon that was previously granted to Maryam Sanda, who was found guilty of murdering her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, in Abuja.
An official gazette published by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Wednesday, indicated that her death sentence has been commuted to 12 years in prison.
The document noted that the convict would serve 12 years “based on compassionate grounds, in the best interest of the children and good conduct, embraced new lifestyle, model prisoner and remorsefulness”.
Sanda has already spent six years and eight months at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre and was granted a pardon by the President earlier.
In a statement released on October 11, 2025, the Presidency said that her family had pleaded for her release, arguing it was in the best interest of her two children.
As noted by the President’s aide, this decision was made following a recommendation from the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, which is chaired by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi (SAN).
“In exercise of the powers conferred upon me by section 175 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and of all other powers enabling me in that behalf, I, BOLA AHMED TINUBU, GCFR, President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, hereby commute the death sentence of the following persons to life imprisonment: Emmanuel Baba, Abubakar Usman, Khalifa Umar, Mohammed Umar.
“This Instrument may be cited as the Instrument of Presidential Prerogative of Mercy (Commutation of Death Sentence to Life Imprisonment), 2025. Made at Abuja, this 21st day of October, 2025,” it partly read.
Others who received presidential pardons included Major General Mamman Vatsa, Major Akubo, Professor Magaji Garba, Ken Saro-Wiwa, and the other members of the Ogoni Eight.
However, the gazette published on Wednesday indicated that Sanda was not among those whose death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment.
Tinubu’s initial list, featuring the names of 175 convicts, received mixed reactions. Some praised the President for his decision, while others criticised him for including individuals convicted of serious crimes such as drug trafficking.
Nevertheless, the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice said that no inmate approved for clemency in this recent exercise of the President’s prerogative of mercy had been released from custody.
The AGF clarified that the process remains in its final administrative phase, which entails a standard review to ensure that all names and recommendations adhere fully to established legal and procedural guidelines before any release order is issued.
