11/10/2025
President Bola Tinubu has granted a pardon to Maryam Sanda, the woman sentenced to death in 2020 for the culpable homicide of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello.
Sanda, who was convicted of stabbing Bello—the son of a former National Chairman of the PDP, Mr. Haliru Bello—served six years and eight months at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre before her release.
Reasons for the Pardon
The decision to grant the pardon was made following an earnest request from Sanda’s family and was reportedly based on several mitigating factors:
Benefit to Children: The primary appeal was the assertion that her release would greatly benefit her two minor children.
Rehabilitation: The appeal cited Sanda’s exemplary behavior while incarcerated, her expressed remorse for the crime, and her demonstrated adoption of a new way of living during her time at the custodia center.
President Tinubu’s pardon spares Sanda the death penalty upheld by the court, allowing her immediate release from detention.
