President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the removal of Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced to death in 2020 for killing her husband, from the revised presidential pardon list, following widespread public criticism.
The Presidency announced on Wednesday that Sanda and others convicted of serious offences — including kidnapping, drug trafficking, human trafficking, fraud, and illegal possession of firearms — had been taken off the list.
Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga said the review came after consultations with the Council of State and reflected growing concerns about national security and justice for victims.
> “The decision was informed by public sensitivity, security considerations, and the need to maintain trust in the justice system,” Onanuga explained.
Sanda was among 175 inmates granted clemency on October 11, following recommendations from the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, which cited her good conduct, remorse, and status as a mother of two young children.
However, the inclusion of the 2020 convict — who was found guilty by Justice Yusuf Halilu of the FCT High Court for stabbing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, to death during a domestic quarrel — sparked outrage across the country.
Nigerians on social media described her pardon as “a grave injustice,” arguing that those convicted of premeditated murder should never benefit from executive clemency.
President Tinubu’s reversal, observers say, is aimed at restoring public confidence in the administration’s justice and mercy process, and sending a clear signal that grave offences will not be treated lightly.
Sanda, daughter-in-law of former PDP chairman Haliru Bello, was sentenced to death by hanging and has been serving her term at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre.
With her removal, the Presidency has effectively aligned the new pardon list with “national security, moral fairness, and the rule of law,” ending weeks of public outrage.
