Nigerians have taken to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to react after reports emerged that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu granted a presidential pardon to Maryam Sanda, a woman convicted in 2020 for killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, in Abuja.

Bello was the son of former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, Haliru Bello.

Sanda was found guilty of stabbing her husband three times in the back and several times on his private part at their residence in Pension Estate, Pakali Close, Wuse 2, Abuja, on November 17, 2017, following allegations of infidelity.

She reportedly received the pardon after spending six years and eight months at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre.

The development was confirmed in a statement released on Saturday, October 11, by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

“Her family pleaded for her release, arguing that it was in the best interest of her two children,” the statement read.
“The plea was also anchored on her good conduct in jail, her remorse, and her embracement of a new lifestyle demonstrating her commitment to being a model prisoner.”

According to Onanuga, the presidential gesture followed the recommendation of the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, chaired by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi (SAN).

The statement further explained that inmates were considered for clemency based on factors such as remorse, good conduct, old age, and rehabilitation through education or vocational training. Some prisoners were recognised for their enrolment in the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), while others demonstrated notable behavioural reform.

Others who reportedly received presidential pardons include illegal miners, white-collar offenders, remorseful drug convicts, foreigners, Major General Mamman Vatsa, Major Akubo, Professor Magaji Garba, and capital offenders such as Ken Saro-Wiwa and the other Ogoni Eight, among a total of 175 convicts and former convicts.