Tinubu revokes Maryam Sanda’s pardon, reduces sentence to 12 Years

President Bola Tinubu has withdrawn the presidential pardon earlier granted to Maryam Sanda, who was convicted and sentenced to death for killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, in 2017.

Sanda’s name initially appeared among those to be released from prison earlier this month. However, following public outrage, the list was recalled for further review. The Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, who chaired the committee that recommended clemency, had announced that the list would undergo additional scrutiny.

In a revised document released on Wednesday, Sanda’s name appeared under the “reduced terms of imprisonment” category, with her death sentence commuted to 12 years imprisonment. Having already served about seven years, she is expected to spend roughly five more years behind bars.

Maryam Sanda’s case, which involved the fatal stabbing of her husband during a domestic dispute in their Abuja home, remains one of Nigeria’s most publicized domestic violence and spousal murder cases.

She was tried at the FCT High Court, where she maintained her innocence throughout the proceedings. In January 2020, Justice Yusuf Halilu found her guilty of culpable homicide and sentenced her to death by hanging. Before the commutation, Sanda had served six years and eight months at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre.