Tinubu Pardons Maryam Sanda Six Years After Conviction For Killing Husband

President Bola Tinubu has granted a state pardon to Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced to death in 2020 for killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, during a domestic dispute in Abuja.

The president’s special adviser on information and strategy, Bayo Onanuga, announced the clemency on Saturday, revealing that Sanda, 37, had regained her freedom after serving six years and eight months at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre.

Onanuga explained that the decision followed appeals from her family, who said her release would allow her to properly care for her two young children. He added that her remorse and good conduct in custody also influenced the president’s decision.

In January 2020, Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court found Sanda guilty of culpable homicide, ruling that she fatally stabbed her husband during an argument at their home. The court concluded that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.

The victim, Bilyaminu Bello, was the son of former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national chairman, Haliru Bello.

Sanda was first arraigned in November 2017 and granted bail on health grounds in 2018 after several failed attempts. Her trial lasted more than two years, marked by frequent adjournments and changes in her legal team.

She is among 175 inmates who benefited from President Tinubu’s latest round of clemency and sentence reductions approved earlier this week.