{"id":123469,"date":"2025-10-31T21:26:12","date_gmt":"2025-10-31T20:26:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/?p=123469"},"modified":"2025-10-31T21:26:12","modified_gmt":"2025-10-31T20:26:12","slug":"clemency-for-maryam-sanda-guided-by-compassion-onanuga","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/exclusive\/clemency-for-maryam-sanda-guided-by-compassion-onanuga\/","title":{"rendered":"Clemency for Maryam Sanda Guided by Compassion \u2014 Onanuga"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Oscar Okhifo<\/div>\n
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The Presidency has defended the controversial clemency granted to convicted husband killer, Maryam Sanda, insisting the decision was guided by compassion, constitutional responsibility and the consideration of her personal circumstances.<\/div>\n
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This was made known by\u00a0 Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga<\/div>\n
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He said the case was reviewed based on the fact that the incident occurred \u201cin the heat of passion, and that could happen to anybody.\u201d<\/div>\n
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He explained that the Presidential Advisory Committee on Prerogative of Mercy recommended Sanda after establishing that she had shown \u201cgood behaviour and remorse\u201d and had \u201ctaken advantage of rehabilitation programmes while in prison.\u201d<\/div>\n
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Onanuga noted that the welfare of her two young children was also a major factor, adding: \u201cThe President has sympathy. The children of Maryam were also put into consideration.\u201d<\/div>\n
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He acknowledged public backlash after the initial release list was published but said President Tinubu demonstrated leadership by responding to public sentiment.<\/div>\n
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\u201cThe President listens to people,\u201d he said. \u201cHe is not afraid of reversing himself when necessary.\u201d<\/div>\n
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Following the review, the presidency replaced Sanda\u2019s full pardon with a commutation of her death sentence to 12 years imprisonment, a\u00a0 move officials described as a balance between justice and mercy.<\/div>\n
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\u201cThe government must consider the rights of the offender, the feelings of the victims\u2019 families and the expectations of society.<\/div>\n
\u201cThat is what justice truly represents.\u201d Onanuga said.<\/div>\n
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Sanda will now continue serving her sentence while the broader conversation on clemency and accountability in Nigeria\u2019s criminal justice system persists.<\/div>\n
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