…Death Sentence Reversed, Now to Serve 12 Years in Jail
…Kidnapping, Drug, and Firearms Convicts Dropped from Clemency List
By John Paul
In a dramatic policy reversal, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has modified the scope of his national pardon exercise, striking out convicts of serious crimes such as kidnapping, drug offences, human trafficking, and firearms violations, and notably reversing the earlier full pardon granted to Maryam Sanda, who was convicted of killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, in Abuja.
The President’s decision, announced yesterday through his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, follows widespread criticism that greeted the initial list of 175 beneficiaries. Tinubu, who had signed the Instrument of Clemency and Pardons earlier in October, reportedly ordered a fresh review after consultations with the Council of State and key justice sector stakeholders.
Under the revised list, Sanda’s death sentence has been commuted to 12 years’ imprisonment “on compassionate grounds,” according to the official gazette released on Wednesday. The document cited her “good conduct, remorse, and model behaviour” during her over six years at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre as reasons for the reconsideration.
“The convict shall serve twelve years in prison based on compassionate grounds, in the best interest of the children and good conduct,” the gazette stated.
Sanda, who was sentenced to death by hanging in January 2020 for fatally stabbing her husband in 2017, had earlier been listed among those to benefit from Tinubu’s clemency exercise. Her inclusion sparked a public outcry, with many Nigerians arguing that her case symbolised gendered impunity and elite privilege in the justice system. The backlash reportedly forced the Presidency to revisit her status and settle for a commutation instead of outright release.
According to Onanuga, the President’s review reflects “the seriousness of certain crimes, their implications for national security, and the need to honour the feelings of victims and the larger society.” Tinubu, he said, also weighed the morale of law enforcement officers and Nigeria’s obligations under international justice frameworks.
Other beneficiaries of the revised clemency include late Major General Mamman Vatsa, executed for treason in 1986; Major Akubo; Professor Magaji Garba; and environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa along with the Ogoni Eight. Their posthumous pardons were retained as symbolic acts of national healing.
However, the President directed that those convicted of violent crimes, large-scale fraud, and drug trafficking be completely excluded. “Justice must balance compassion with deterrence,” Onanuga said. “The President recognises that mercy must not undermine public confidence in the rule of law.”
In a related directive, Tinubu ordered the relocation of the Secretariat of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy from the Ministry of Special Duties to the Ministry of Justice to ensure greater transparency. The Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has also been tasked with issuing new guidelines mandating full consultation with prosecuting agencies before future recommendations are made.
Meanwhile, the Attorney-General’s office confirmed that none of the beneficiaries have yet been released, pending completion of legal and administrative reviews to ensure full compliance with established procedures.