Husband Killer, Maryam Sanda, Dropped from Revised Presidential Pardon List

Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced to death in 2020 for the murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, has been removed from the presidential pardon list following a directive by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The president on Wednesday ordered the exclusion of all individuals convicted of serious crimes, including murder, kidnapping, drug trafficking, human trafficking, fraud, and illegal firearms possession, from the revised clemency list.

According to a statement by Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the review came after consultations with the Council of State and in response to public concerns. He explained that the move was driven by national security considerations, the need to respect victims of crime, and the importance of maintaining public confidence in the justice system.

Onanuga also disclosed that while some inmates retained on the list had their sentences reduced, all offenders found guilty of grave crimes were removed.

Sanda’s inclusion in the initial pardon list had sparked widespread criticism and outrage across the country. Many Nigerians condemned the decision, describing it as insensitive to the memory of her late husband and a betrayal of justice.

Sanda was convicted for stabbing her husband, Bilyaminu, son of former PDP National Chairman, Haliru Bello, to death during a domestic dispute at their home in Maitama, Abuja, on November 19, 2017. The highly publicized case drew national attention, with photos of the couple circulating widely online.

In January 2020, Justice Yusuf Halilu of the FCT High Court sentenced Sanda to death by hanging, ruling that the evidence proved premeditated murder. She was later moved to the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre, where she remained until her clemency announcement earlier this month.

On October 11, 2025, Sanda was among 175 inmates granted pardon or sentence reduction by President Tinubu based on recommendations from the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, which cited her “good conduct, remorse,” and role as “a mother of two young children.”

However, public backlash on social media forced a reassessment. Many Nigerians took to X (formerly Twitter) to express anger and disbelief.

User @basquiatshow wrote, “They say it’s for the kids, but a case of premeditated murder should never have been considered for pardon. This is injustice.”
Another user, @HiikyaaTor, lamented, “Mr. Sunday Jackson is sentenced to death for defending himself, yet Maryam Sanda, who stabbed her husband multiple times, gets clemency. What a country!”

Following the public outcry, President Tinubu approved a final review of the clemency list, leading to the removal of Sanda and other convicts of violent crimes.