Maryam Sanda, sentenced to death in 2020 for the culpable homicide of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, has been removed from the pardon list by President Bola Tinubu.
President Tinubu on Wednesday ordered the removal of individuals convicted of severe crimes, including kidnapping, drug offenses, human trafficking, fraud, and illegal firearms possession or trafficking, from the list.
Additionally, according to a statement by Bayo Onanuga, those who were previously pardoned on the old list have had their sentences reduced.
Onanuga added that the review followed consultations with the Council of State and consideration of public opinion.
According to him, persons convicted of serious offences such as kidnapping, drug trafficking, human trafficking, fraud, and unlawful possession of firearms were also removed from the initial list.
He added that the decision to alter the list was based on security concerns, sensitivity to victims of crime, and the need to maintain public trust in the justice system.
Recall that the presidency was heavily criticised by Nigerians for its decision to grant clemency to Sanda who was sentenced to death in 2020 for the murder of her husband.
Sanda was convicted for stabbing her husband, Bilyaminu, son of former People’s Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, Haliru Bello, to death during a heated argument at their home in Maitama, Abuja, on Sunday, November 19, 2017. The case drew national attention as images of the couple circulated online.
In January 2020, Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sentenced Sanda to death by hanging after finding her guilty of premeditated murder. She was later transferred to the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre, where she remained until her recent release.
On October 11, 2025, President Tinubu granted her clemency as part of a list of 175 inmates who received presidential pardon or sentence reduction. According to the Presidency, the decision followed recommendations from the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, which cited Sanda’s good conduct, remorse, and her responsibility as a mother of two young children as reasons for her inclusion.
However, the decision stirred mixed reactions across social media. Many Nigerians took to X (formerly Twitter) to express outrage and disbelief.
@arojinle1 wrote, “Yorùbá is just all round. I saw the Maryam Sanda news and just one Yorùbá statement came to mind. ‘The one who dies is the ultimate loser. Don’t let them kill you o.’”
@jollz added, “That Maryam Sanda pardon really drives home when Nigerians say ‘na who die, lose’. Kai.”
@basquiatshow said, “They say it’s for the kids, but a case of premeditated murder should never have been considered for pardon. The Lateef Fagbemi and @NGRPresident missed on this one. It’s pure injustice.”
@HiikyaaTor tweeted, “Mr Sunday Jackson is sentenced to death for defending himself, yet Maryam Sanda, who stabbed her husband multiple times, gets clemency. What a country!”
