The Presidency, through Bayo Onanuga (Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy), has explained that the reduction of Maryam Sanda’s death sentence to 12 years imprisonment was an act of clemency, not a pardon.
Speaking on Arise TV, Onanuga stated that President Tinubu was moved by compassion, taking Sanda’s children into consideration. He stressed that the crime was deemed one of passion, not premeditated murder, noting that “anything can happen between a man and a woman in the heat of the moment.” Onanuga also noted the President is “human” and is willing to listen to the public and reverse a decision if necessary.
Seems like compassion (and public opinion) weighed heavily on that presidential decision.
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