Due to the backlash from Nigerians for granting a presidential pardon to Maryam Sanda, who was convicted and sentenced to death in 2020 for killing Bilyaminu Bello, her husband, President Bola Tinubu has now reversed the absolute presidential pardon earlier granted to her.
In a new directive contained in an official gazette released on Wednesday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President reversed the pardon and approved a 12-year jail term for Sanda on compassionate grounds.
The directive reads: “Maryam Sanda, whose offence was culpable homicide, sentenced on 27/01/2020 with death by hanging, has served six years and eight months at the Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC), Suleja will now serve 12 years based on compassionate grounds, in the best interest of the children and good conduct, embraced a new lifestyle, model prisoner and remorsefulness.”
The reversal is as a result of the widespread public criticism of the initial pardon, which many described as an injustice to the late Bello’s family.