JUST IN: President Tinubu withdraws Maryam Sanda’s pardon, orders her to serve a six-year prison term

Following widespread public outrage over the presidential pardon granted to Maryam Sanda—who was sentenced to death in 2020 for killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello—President Bola Tinubu has rescinded the pardon and adjusted her sentence to 12 years in prison.

The development was announced in an official gazette issued on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. According to the document, President Tinubu’s decision came after consultations with the Ministry of Justice and other relevant authorities who reviewed the circumstances surrounding the case.

The gazette stated that Sanda, who has already served six years and eight months at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre, will now serve out the remainder of her new sentence. The adjustment was reportedly made on compassionate grounds, taking into account the time she has already spent in custody and her conduct while incarcerated.

The presidency emphasized that the reversal aims to uphold justice while showing measured leniency, ensuring that the rule of law and public trust in the justice system are maintained.