President Bola Tinubu has excluded Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced to death in 2020 for the murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, from the list of individuals initially considered for a presidential pardon.
The statement was made by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who explained that President Tinubu acted under the constitutional powers of prerogative of mercy as provided in Section 175 (1) and (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Onanuga noted that the decision followed extensive consultations with the Council of State and careful consideration of public opinion.
According to the statement, President Tinubu directed that individuals convicted of grave crimes, including murder, kidnapping, drug trafficking, human trafficking, fraud, and illegal firearms possession will be excluded from the final pardon list.
It was further revealed that while some names remain on the revised list, their sentences will be commuted or reduced rather than completely pardoned.
