By Akinwale Kasali
Maryam Sanda, convicted husband-killer, has had the inexplicable pardon earlier granted her by President Bola Tinubu revoked. Her joy and that of her family members has been cut short.
Most Nigerians rose in anger when the President granted the young woman full pardon after she heartlessly stabbed her equally young husband, Bilyaminu Bello, to death in 2020.
She was condemned to death by hanging at the Federal High Court, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
Six years in jail after her conviction to death by hanging, her name scandalously surfaced on the list of those granted full pardon on the recommendation of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, headed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN. The list was endorsed by the Council of States, and approved, finally, by President Bola Tinubu.
Hell was let loose, literally, over her pardon with her late husband’s family accusing the President of insensitivity and, the pardon, literally “killing” their son again like a nobody.
The backlash which greeted most of the names on the list which included confirmed criminals forced the President to order a review of the list.
On Wednesday, October 29, a reviewed list was released and Sanda lost her full pardon.
Even though given the crime he committed, her punishment in the review still looks like a slap on the wrist, but it is some consolation to her husband’s family and the shocked members of the public.
In the new list released Sanda death sentence was commuted to 12 years imprisonment. Having served about six years and eight months, Sandas will now serve an extra six years before she smells freedom.
An official gazette released by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Wednesday confirmed the revocation of her pardon.
Sandas who is in custody at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre, will be released on compassionate grounds after six more years.
It 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.”
In the gazette titled “reduced terms”, the explanatory note stressed that the beneficiaries whose names were listed therein were in pursuance of section 175 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
“The beneficiaries included 37-year-old Sanda, Harunah Isah (35), Mamman Ibrahim (50), Sanusi Adamu (28), Sadi Musa 20, Sabiyu Aliyu, Halliru Sani (18), and 79 others.”
At a press statement, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) said the presidential pardon earlier released which granted Sanda and others clemency has been reviewed following consultations with the Council of State.
Fagbemi confirmed that the President received complaints on the earlier list and consequently initiated a due process review.
The statement reads in part; “It is to be recalled that following consultations with the Council of State, the President received concerns on the recommended list and consequently initiated a due process review. This exercise has been completed and approved by the President. This exercise was to ensure that only persons who met stipulated legal and procedural requirements would benefit from the prerogative of mercy.
“During this final review, few persons earlier recommended were found not to have met the necessary requirements and were accordingly delisted, while in some other cases, sentences were reviewed and reduced to reflect fairness, justice, and the spirit of the exercise.
“This exercise underscores the President’s desire to balance justice with compassion and the belief that justice must not only punish, but also reform and redeem. The review was undertaken with meticulous commitment to due process to reinforce the administration’s broader commitment to justice reform and humane correctional practices in line with international standards.”
Fagbemi also confirmed that President Tinubu has directed the immediate relocation of the Secretariat of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy from the Federal Ministry of Special Duties to the Federal Ministry of Justice.
“To ensure that future exercises meet public expectations and best practices, the President has directed the immediate relocation of the Secretariat of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy from the Federal Ministry of Special Duties to the Federal Ministry of Justice.
“The President has further directed the Attorney-General of the Federation to issue appropriate Guidelines for the Exercise of the Power of Prerogative of Mercy, which includes compulsory consultation with relevant prosecuting agencies.
“This will ensure that only persons who fully meet the stipulated legal and procedural requirements will henceforth benefit from the issuance of instruments of release”, the statement said.
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