President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has rescinded the presidential pardon previously granted to Maryam Sanda—who was convicted and sentenced in 2020 to death for the murder of her husband Bilyaminu Bello—after facing widespread public backlash.
Sanda’s pardon was announced in October 2025 among 175 others cleared by the presidential advisory committee on the prerogative of mercy. Her name appeared on official lists of beneficiaries.
However, her husband’s family criticised the move as “the worst possible injustice,” arguing the decision reopened their wounds by seeming to reward a convicted murderer.
The reversal underscores the administration’s response to public sentiment and the importance of due process in high-profile clemency cases. Analysts say the incident may trigger a review of how pardons are handled for capital-offence convicts to ensure transparency and equity moving forward.