The Nigerian Correctional Service says the convicted Maryam Sanda was not part of those recently granted presidential pardon.
The Service’s spokesman, Augustine Njoku, in a statement on Thursday debunked rumours suggesting she was among the 70 inmates at the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje, who were granted presidential amnesty.
“The Service wants to categorically state that the news is fake and very unrealistic and an attempt to rubbish the good intention of the President towards decongesting the custodial centre,” he said.
Njoku listed the criteria stated by the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, for inmates qualified for the pardon.
He said, “Convicts who are Sixty (60) years and above; convicts serving 3 years and above with less than 6 months to serve; inmates with ill-health likely to terminate in death; inmates with mental ill-health; inmates with option of fine not exceeding N50,000 with no pending case; convicted pregnant women; convicted women with child; convicted inmates with minor offences; convicted inmates who spent 75% of their sentence after remission.
“It obvious that Maryam Sanda does not meet any of the above mentioned requirements and therefore did not benefit from the Presidential Pardon/Clemency.
“The Controller General of Corrections Ja’afaru Ahmed wishes to assure the public that the Service will ensure the safety and humane containment of the inmates in our custody and therefore advice the public to discountenance the rumor that Maryam Sanda benefited from the presidential pardon.”
Sanda was sentenced to death by hanging on January 27 by an FCT High Court for killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello.
She has approached the Court of Appeal in Abuja, asking the court to set aside the verdict and acquit her.
