President Bola Tinubu has granted clemency to Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced to d+ath in 2020 for k+lling her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, during a domestic dispute in Abuja.
The announcement was made on Saturday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who said the decision followed appeals from Sanda’s family and reports of her good conduct and remorse while in custody.
Now 37 years old, Sanda had spent six years and eight months at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre before her release. Her family argued that her freedom was in the best interest of her two children.
Sanda was convicted by Justice Yusuf Halilu of the FCT High Court, who found her guilty of culpable homicide for fatally st@bbing Bello, son of former PDP chairman Haliru Bello, in 2017. The court ruled that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and sentenced her to d+ath by h+nging.
Her case drew national attention for years, marked by multiple bail applications, delayed hearings, and emotional testimony. Sanda maintained that her husband’s d+ath was not premeditated, claiming it happened during a h£ated quarrel.
Mr. Onanuga noted that Sanda was among 175 convicts granted pardon or sentence reduction by the President. Others on the list include illegal miners, dr¥g offenders, white-collar criminals, and elderly inmates.
“President Tinubu granted clemency to most of them based on their remorse, good behavior, or the acquisition of vocational sk+lls and education,” Onanuga stated, adding that some were pardoned on grounds of age or health.
Sanda’s release marks one of the most high-profile acts of presidential clemency in recent years.
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