President Bola Tinubu has removed the name of Maryam Sanda — who was sentenced to death in 2020 for killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello — from the presidential pardon list.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to Onanuga, President Tinubu’s decision was made in the exercise of his constitutional powers of prerogative of mercy, as provided under Section 175(1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
He stressed that the new list came about after consultations with the Council of State and the public opinion and signing of all relevant instruments necessary to formalise the updated list of beneficiaries.
According to the statement, Tinubu ordered the removal of individuals convicted of severe crimes, including kidnapping, drug offenses, human trafficking, fraud, and illegal firearms possession or trafficking, from the list.
Also, those who were previously pardoned on the old list have had their sentences reduced.