By James
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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has removed the name of Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced to death in 2020 for the murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, from the presidential pardon list.
This development was disclosed in a statement released on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Sanda’s case drew national attention in 2017 when she was accused of fatally stabbing her husband, the son of a former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), during a domestic dispute in Abuja.
After years of court proceedings, the Federal Capital Territory High Court found her guilty of culpable homicide in January 2020 and sentenced her to death by hanging. The Court of Appeal later upheld the judgment.
According to the new statement, President Tinubu ordered the review of the pardon list and directed that individuals convicted of serious offence, including murder, kidnapping, drug trafficking, human trafficking, fraud, and illegal arms possession, be excluded.
The presidency noted that the intention of the pardon exercise is not to excuse violent or grave criminal acts.
Additionally, some individuals who had previously been considered for clemency under the earlier list will now have their sentences reduced rather than fully pardoned.
More details are expected to be released soon.
