Tinubu commutes murderess Maryam Sanda’s death by hanging to just 12 years’ imprisonment

President Bola Tinubu commuted Maryam Sanda’s death by hanging sentence to just 12 years in prison, in the reviewed list of state pardon issued on Wednesday.

Spokesperson for the president, Bayo Onanuga, made this announcement in a statement on Wednesday, following public outrage on the pardon Mr Tinubu granted Mrs Sanda and others convicted of serious crimes.

Mrs Sanda, who was sentenced to death by hanging for stabbing her husband Bilyaminu Bello to death in 2017, had her sentence “commuted.”

Having served six years and eight months in Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC) Suleja, Mrs Sanda will “serve 12 years based on compassionate grounds, in the best interest of the children and good conduct, embraced new lifestyle, model prisoner and remorsefulness, ” the reviewed list of pardon released on Wednesday, noted.

Mrs Sanda, daughter of Maimuna Aliyu, a former executive director of Aso Savings and Loans once appointed into the Independent Corrupt Practices and other offences Commission (ICPC), was earlier pardon by Mr Tinubu, a move that sparked huge criticisms.

The family of slain Mr Bello had condemned the presidential pardon granted to Mrs Sanda, who killed their son, describing it as “the worst possible injustice any family could be made to go through.”

Bello Muhammed, in a statement released on behalf of the family, said President Bola Tinubu’s decision to pardon Ms Sanda had reopened their healing wounds.

“This latest turn of events, coming just a few years after the dastardly crime that cruelly cut short Bilyaminu’s life, has, however, expectedly reopened our healing wounds,” the statement said. “To have Maryam Sanda walk the face of the earth again, free from any blemish for her heinous crime as if she had merely squashed an ant, is the worst possible injustice any family could be made to go through for a loved one.”

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