President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reversed the pardon earlier granted to Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced to death in 2020 for the murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, ordering instead that she serve six years in prison.
The development was confirmed on Wednesday in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who said the President decided after reviewing the presidential pardon list and considering public opinion and legal advice.
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Get StartedTinubu Orders Review of Pardon List
According to Onanuga, President Tinubu acted under his constitutional powers of prerogative of mercy as enshrined in Section 175(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
He explained that the review followed consultations with the Council of State and the Ministry of Justice, leading to the correction of earlier inclusions.
“President Tinubu has directed the removal of individuals convicted of severe crimes, including kidnapping, drug offenses, human trafficking, and illegal possession or trafficking of firearms, from the list,” Onanuga said.
“In addition, the President has approved sentence reductions for certain offenders, including Maryam Sanda, whose death sentence has now been commuted to six years imprisonment.”
STATEHOUSE PRESS RELEASE
PRESIDENT TINUBU SIGNS INSTRUMENT OF CLEMENCY AND PARDONS, MOVES SECRETARIAT OF PREROGATIVE OF MERCY COMMITTEE TO JUSTICE MINISTRY
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has executed the relevant instruments of release to complete the process of formally… pic.twitter.com/hxESetiIQY
— Bayo Onanuga (@aonanuga1956) October 29, 2025
Why Sanda’s Pardon Was Reversed
The reversal comes after public backlash and criticism from legal experts and civil society groups over her initial inclusion in the list of pardoned convicts. Many Nigerians argued that pardoning a convict found guilty of domestic murder would set a dangerous precedent.
President Tinubu, after reviewing the case, reportedly emphasised that the exercise of mercy must not undermine justice or weaken public confidence in the judiciary.
