President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commuted the death sentence of Maryam Sanda to 12 years’ imprisonment.
Naija News reports that Sanda, who was convicted of culpable homicide and sentenced to death by hanging on January 27, 2020, had her sentence reduced on compassionate grounds.
According to the Presidency, the decision took into account her model conduct in prison, her embrace of a reformed lifestyle, and concerns for the welfare of her children.
A statement issued on Wednesday by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), confirmed the development.
The statement further revealed that four other Nigerians on death row — Emmanuel Baba, Abubakar Usman, Khalifa Umar, and Mohammed Umar, also had their death sentences commuted to life imprisonment.
Fagbemi explained that the decision followed the conclusion of the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy exercise, with President Tinubu formally issuing instruments of pardon, clemency, and reduced sentences.
He recalled that the final list emerged after consultations with the Council of State and a subsequent review of concerns raised about the initial recommendations.
The statement released by the AGF said, “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.
“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.”
Fagbemi commended the public for their patience and constructive engagement throughout the process, and assured Nigerians that the government remains steadfast in promoting a justice system that upholds human dignity while safeguarding national security and social order.