President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has removed the name of Maryam Sanda, sentenced to death in 2020 for the culpable homicide of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, from the presidential pardon list.
This was contained in a statement by the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Wednesday.
According to the statement, Tinubu ordered the exclusion of individuals convicted of serious crimes, including kidnapping, drug trafficking, human trafficking, fraud, and illegal firearms possession or trade, from the list.
Also, those who were previously granted clemency on the earlier list have had their sentences reduced.
President Tinubu recently approved the release of 175 inmates serving various jail terms nationwide under the Prerogative of Mercy policy, which empowers the President to grant clemency on humanitarian grounds.
Sanda was among those initially pardoned. She was convicted in 2020 after being found guilty of stabbing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, to death at their Abuja residence on November 19, 2017.
However, Maryam’s inclusion, along with that of other convicts, sparked public outrage, with many accusing the government of promoting impunity.
Following the backlash, the government ordered a multi-agency review of the proposed presidential pardon list.
