President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the removal of Maryam Sanda — who was sentenced to death in 2020 for killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello — from the federal pardon list, alongside others convicted of serious crimes.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the move followed a comprehensive review of the list of individuals initially recommended for presidential clemency.
The President directed that all persons convicted of severe offences such as kidnapping, drug trafficking, human trafficking, fraud, and illegal possession or trafficking of firearms be deleted from the list. Those who had earlier received pardons under the old list will now have their sentences reduced instead of being fully released.
The decision, the statement noted, was guided by “the seriousness and security implications of some of the offences,” as well as the need to remain sensitive to the feelings of victims, uphold public confidence in justice, and boost the morale of law enforcement agencies.
Tinubu emphasized that justice must be seen as “a three-way traffic for the accused, the victim, and the society.”
In the same statement, President Tinubu announced that the Secretariat of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy would be relocated from the Ministry of Special Duties to the Federal Ministry of Justice to ensure transparency and consistency in future exercises.
The Attorney-General of the Federation has also been directed to develop clear guidelines for the exercise of the prerogative of mercy, including mandatory consultations with relevant prosecuting agencies before any recommendations are made.
The updated list of eligible beneficiaries has been transmitted to the Nigerian Correctional Service for implementation in accordance with the signed instruments of release.
President Tinubu expressed appreciation to Nigerians for their feedback on the matter and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to judicial reform and improving the justice system in the country.
The new list:
