The federal government of Nigeria has formally revoked the previously announced pardon of Maryam Sanda, who was convicted of killing her husband, and has instead commuted her death sentence to 12 years’ imprisonment.
The special adviser on information and strategy to the President, Bayo Onanuga, announced that following public outcry and further review by the Council of State, the initial pardon list was recalibrated to remove several high-profile convicts, including Sanda. In her case, the instrument issued specifies a reduced term of 12 years rather than full pardon.
In November 2017, Maryam Sanda was arrested by the police after her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, nephew of former PDP national chairman Haliru Mohammed Bello, died at the pair’s residence in Abuja.
The prosecution at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, argued that Sanda stabbed her husband with a kitchen knife during a domestic dispute, causing his death. Testimony indicated multiple attempts to inflict the knife stab and conflicting evidence about other objects (such as a broken shisha pot) had been introduced. 
On January 27, 2020, Justice Yusuf Halilu found Maryam Sanda guilty of culpable homicide and sentenced her to death by hanging, finding that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. 
Following her sentencing, Sanda was held at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre where she spent over six years (approximately six years and eight months) before the recent developments.
Earlier this month, the presidency released an initial list of 175 convicts recommended for presidential pardon under the prerogative of mercy. Sanda’s name was included among them, sparking significant public backlash due to the severity of her crime and the high-profile nature of the victim.
In response to the outcry and concern for the feelings of victims’ families and societal trust in the justice system, President Tinubu ordered a review of the list. The final communiqué disclosed that Sanda would no longer receive a full pardon but instead have her sentence commuted to a fixed term of 12 years on compassionate grounds, citing good conduct, remorseness and the welfare of her children. 
According to the Attorney-General of the Federation, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), the review process considered “the three-way traffic of justice” involving the accused, the victim, and society at large. The final list of 86 beneficiaries includes those whose death sentences were commuted or terms reviewed rather than full pardons granted.
Samuel Aina