Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS) has stated that Maryam Sanda is not a beneficiary of Buhari’s Presidential pardon.
It would be recalled that Maryam Sanda was sentenced to death by hanging after a federal high court found her guilty of stabbing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello to death.
However, social media has been awash with speculations regarding the freedom of Maryam Sanda,with many internet users alleging she was among the 2600 inmates granted a presidential pardon last week.
However, NCS spokesperson, Mr Chuks Njoku, has released a statement to set the records straight disclosing Ms Sanda was still in custody and describing the online speculations as “fake and unrealistic news”.
“The attention of NCOs has been drawn to the news making the rounds that Maryam Sanda was granted presidential pardon on Thursday, April 9, alongside some 70 other inmates at the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje
“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 centres.
“The Minister of Interior, Mr Rauf Aregbesola clearly stated the categories of inmates qualified for the amnesty while addressing a news conference on April 9.
“According to Aregbeshola, inmates sentenced for violent extreme offences such as terrorism, kidnapping, armed banditry, rape, human trafficking, culpable homicide and the like are not qualified for the Presidential Pardon.
“However, Convicts who are 60 years and above, convicts serving three years and above with less than six months to serve, inmates with ill-health likely to terminate in death are qualified.
“Also 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 per cent of their sentence after remission.”
“We further want to assure the public that Sanda is in our custody and will remain as such.
“The Controller-General of NCOs, Mr Ja’afaru Ahmed, assures the public that the service will ensure the safety and humane containment of inmates in our custody”