President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the reduction of the death sentence passed on Maryam Sanda to 12 years imprisonment.

Sanda, who was convicted and sentenced to death by hanging on January 27, 2020, for the culpable homicide of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, had her sentence commuted on compassionate grounds.

According to the final list of beneficiaries of the presidential prerogative of mercy, the decision was based on her exemplary behavior in prison, her apparent reformation, and consideration for the welfare of her children.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, confirmed the decision. He also announced that four other inmates who were on death row—Emmanuel Baba, Abubakar Usman, Khalifa Umar, and Mohammed Umar—had their sentences reduced to life imprisonment.

Fagbemi explained that the release of the final list followed the completion of the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy exercise, during which President Tinubu issued instruments granting pardon, clemency, and sentence reductions.

He noted that following consultations with the Council of State, the President ordered a comprehensive review of the recommended list to ensure that only those who met legal and procedural requirements benefited from the exercise.

“This exercise has been completed and approved by the President to ensure that only persons who met stipulated legal and procedural requirements benefit from the prerogative of mercy,” the statement read.

“During this final review, a 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.”

Fagbemi added that the review reflected the President’s intent to balance justice with compassion, noting that “justice must not only punish but also reform and redeem.”

He further revealed that the President had directed the 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.

Additionally, the Attorney General was instructed to issue new guidelines for the exercise of the prerogative of mercy, including compulsory consultation with relevant prosecuting agencies to ensure transparency and adherence to due process.

Fagbemi commended the public for their patience and constructive engagement throughout the review process, assuring Nigerians that the government remains committed to promoting a justice system that upholds human dignity while maintaining national security and social order.