Tinubu grants Maryam Sanda, 85 others sentence slash; Gen. Vatsa, Ken Saro Wiwa, 13 others bag presidential pardon

Tinubu grants Maryam Sanda, 85 others sentence slash

. Gen. Vatsa, Ken Saro Wiwa, 13 others bag presidential pardon

By Ndukaku Ihe

Maryam Sanda, the woman who was sentenced to death by hanging for killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, and 85 others have been granted a reduced sentence by President Bola Tinubu.
According to the gazette of the list of final beneficiaries of the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy released by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), Maryam Sanda’s death sentence for the offence of culpable homicide has been reduced to 12 years based on compassionate grounds, in the best interest of the children and best conduct, embraced new lifestyle, model prisoner and remorsefulness.
A breakdown shows that those with reduced sentence were jailed for offences bordering on manslaughter, armed robbery, drugs, illegal property (obtaining under false pretence); cannabis sativa; criminal breach of trust, possession of firearms; culpable homicide; fraud; Advance Fee fraud; theft /cheating; forged documents; conspiracy to hijack fishing vessel and unlawful mining.
On the drug lists are Patrick Mensah (who has his sentence of 17 years reduced to 12 years); Obi Edwin Chukwu (from 15 years to 12 years); Tunde Balogun (from 15 years to 12 years); Lima Peveira (from 15 to 12 years); Uchegbu Emeka (from 15 to 12 years); Salawu Adebayo Samsudeen (from 15 to 12 years); Napolo Osariemen (from 15 to 12 years); Odeyemi Omolara (from 25 to 18 years, having served seven years and eight months); Dias Santos Marela Christiana (from 15 to 12 years); Chukwukelu Sunday Calistus (from life imprisonment to 20 years, having served 11 years) and Samson Ajayi (from 15 to 10 years, having served five years).
Those granted clemency by the president, in exercise of the powers conferred on him by section 175 of the 1999 constitution are: Oroka Michael Chibueze: Adesanya Olufemi Paul; Chinedu Stanley; Muharazu Abubakar and Ex-Corporal Michael Bawa.
The rest on the list of clemency are Hamza Abubakar; Daniel Bodunwa; Saad Ahmed Madaki; Ibrahim Yusuf; Emmanuel Yusuf; Buhari Sani; Richard Ayuba; Adam Abubakar: Mohammed Musa and Johnny Ntheru Udor.
The president also commuted the death sentence of Emmanuel Baba, Abubakar Usman, Khalifa Umar and Mohammed Umar to life imprisonment.
A total of 15 other Nigerians, including Late Major General Mamman Vatsa, Ken Saro Wiwa and Farouk Lawan, were granted presidential pardon.
Others in the list are; Mrs Anastasia Daniel Nwaobia; Daniel Gbooko; Hussaini Alhaji Umar; Baribor Bera; Ayinla Saadu Alanamu;  Paul Levera; Saturday Dobee; Felix Nuale; Herbert Macaulay; Nordu Eawo; Barinem Kiobel and John Kpuine
Meanwhile, following the controversy that had trailed the exercise, 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 AGF, in a statement he personally signed, said Tinubu has further directed his office to issue appropriate guidelines for the exercise of the power of Prerogative of Mercy, which includes compulsory consultation with relevant prosecuting agencies.
This, he explained, is to ensure that future exercises meet public expectations and best practices and that only persons who fully meet the stipulated legal and procedural requirements, will, henceforth, benefit from the issuance of instruments of release.
The statement reads: “The Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice wishes to announce the formal conclusion of the Presidential Prerogative of Mercy exercise with the President’s issuance of instruments granting pardon, clemency, and reduced sentences.
“It is to be recalled that following consultations with the Council of State, the President received concerns on the recommended list and consequently initiated a due process review. 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.
“I commend the public for their patience and constructive engagement throughout the process, and assure Nigerians that the government remains steadfast in promoting a justice system that upholds human dignity, while safeguarding national security and social order.