Nigerians have been reacting on X after it was revealed that President Bola Tinubu pardoned Maryam Sanda, a lady who was convicted of k!lling her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, in Abuja in 2017.
Bello was the son of former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman, Haliru Bello.
LIB reported that Sanda st@bbed her husband three times in the back and severally on his private part at their residence in Pension Estate, Pakali Close, Wuse 2, Abuja on November 17, 2017 over allegations of infidelity. read here
She was sentenced to d3ath by hanging by Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court on Monday, January 27, 2020. read here
She would receive the pardon after spending six years and eight months at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre.
This was revealed in the statement released on Saturday, October 11, by 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 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,” the statement read.
According to Onanuga, the gesture was made on 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).
It also stated that the convicts were considered for clemency based on factors such as remorse, good conduct, old age, and rehabilitation through education or vocational training. Some inmates were recognised for their enrolment in the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), while others had demonstrated notable behavioural reform.
Others who received presidential pardons include, illegal miners, white-collar convicts, remorseful drug offenders, foreigners, Major General Mamman Vatsa, Major Akubo, Professor Magaji Garba, capital offenders such as Ken Saro-Wiwa, and the other Ogoni Eight were among the 175 convicts and former convicts. See full list here
See some reactions on X following Sanda’s pardon below…
