... Why Maryam Sanda, 85 convicts got lesser sentences– AGF
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has signed the instrument of clemency and pardon.
The President executed the relevant instruments of release to complete the process of formally exercising his constitutional power of prerogative of mercy to grant pardon and clemency to specific individuals who were earlier convicted for various offences.
This was contained in a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, on Wednesday.
According to the statement, following consultations with the Council of State and public opinion on the matter, President Tinubu directed a further review of the initially approved list for consideration in furtherance of the President’s discretionary powers under Section 175(1)(&(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
It revealed that following the review, certain persons convicted of serious crimes such as kidnapping, drug-related offences, human trafficking, fraud, unlawful possession of firearms/arms dealing, etc, were “deleted from the list”.
The statement further revealed that others who had been hitherto pardoned in the old list had their sentences “commuted”.
“This action became necessary in view of the seriousness and security implications of some of the offences, the need to be sensitive to the feelings of the victims of the crimes and society in general, the need to boost the morale of law enforcement agencies, and adherence to bilateral obligations.
“The concept of justice as a three-way traffic for the Accused, the Victim, and the State/Society also guided the review,” the statement partly read.
The Presidency further stated that the approved list of eligible beneficiaries had been transmitted to the Nigerian Correctional Service for implementation in line with the duly signed instruments of release.
‘Constructive Feedback’
Tinubu also 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.
This, he said, is to ensure that future exercises meet public expectations and best practices.
“President Tinubu also 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.
“The President appreciated the constructive feedback and engagement from stakeholders and the general public on this matter. President Tinubu also reaffirmed his administration’s broader commitment to judicial reforms and improving the administration of justice in Nigeria,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Latest Fagbemi (SAN), given reasons why President Tinubu reviewed the list of 175 convicts that were initially penciled down for presidential pardon.
In a statement released, the Attorney-General said the review was to ensure that only persons that met stipulated legal and procedural requirements benefitted 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” the statement reads
Earlier today, the Presidency released the final list of persons that were granted clemency. According to the list released, 86 persons whose sentences were reduced by President Tinubu, included Maryam Sanda, the daughter in-law of a former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who was facing the capital punishment for culpable homicide.
An Abuja high court had on January 27, 2020, sentenced Maryam to death by hanging after she was found guilty of stabbing her husband, Bilyamin Bello, to death at their Abuja residence in 2017.
Though she has been at the Suleja prison for six years and eight months, with the presidential pardon, FG reduced her total sentence to 12 years, “based on compassionate ground, in the best interest of the children, good conduct, embraced new lifestyle, model to prisoners and remorsefulness.”
Also in the list included one Chukwukelu Sunday Calistus, whose life imprisonment for drug related offences was reduced to 20 years after he had spent 11 years in prison.
Yusuf Owolabi, who was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2015 for manslaughter, also had his punishment reduced to 15 years after he had served for 10 years, while Ifeanyi Eze who was facing a similar punishment over the same offence, also got his sentence reduced to 15 years after his four years stay in prison.
Another convict that was facing life imprisonment for armed robbery and possession of illegal firearm, Mallam Ibrahim Sulaiman, was okayed to stay in prison for only 15 years having already served for two years.
Other beneficiaries included one Samson Ajayi who bagged 15-year jail term in 2022. His sentence was reduced to 10 years, while Alhaji Abubakar Tanko had his 30 years sentence for culpable homicide reduced to 20 years after he had served for seven years.
One Nnamdi Anene who was convicted in 2010 and sentenced to life imprisonment for illegal dealing of arms, was pardoned to serve only 20 years.
Other convicts on the list were sentenced for lesser offences that included unlawful mining, conspiracy to hijack fishing vessel, forgery, obtaining by false pretence, possession of cannabis, fraud, and criminal breach of trust.
The beneficiaries were said to have been remorseful, of good conduct in the prison, acquired vocational skills, or improved their education.
Similarly, in three other separate lists, FG disclosed that whereas 15 persons were granted clemency, 15 others that included Saro Wiwa and Herbert Macaulay, were listed as those that got pardoned, while four others had their death sentences commuted to life imprisonment.
