Anger Trails Tinubu’s Pardon For Husband Killer Maryam Sanda

Nigerians have reacted to the presidential pardon granted to Maryam Sanda, who killed her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, in their Abuja residence on November 19, 2017.

Maryam was among 175 convicts pardoned by President Bola Tinubu last week.

Maryam, who was convicted and sentenced to death by hanging in 2020 by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja, had spent six years and eight months at Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre.

Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, said in a statement at weekend that the 175 convicts and former convicts included illegal miners, white-collar convicts, remorseful drug offenders, foreigners, Major General Mammam Vatsa, Major Akubu, Professor Magaji Garbs, and capital offenders such as Maryam Sanda, Ken Saro Wiwa, and the other Ogoni Eight members.

But some Nigerians have questioned the president’s decision to pardon Maryam, and the country’s justice system.

Femi Ogunshola, a Facebook user, shared that the judge assigned to make a verdict on the case was offered money on a “Ghana Must Go.”

He posted: “I was involved in Maryam Sanda’s case at the FCT High Court, Jabi, Abuja. Pardoning her is, in itself, a criminal offence. I followed the proceedings closely. The judge invited two of us to his office and shared information that was hard to believe…He said that various overtures were made to him to pervert the course of justice. His story appeared like a scene from an Africa Magic movie. He said ‘heavy Ghana must go’ was brought to influence him, but that he rejected all. Now she has been pardoned, a decision that should be condemned. Like Bobrisky, she enjoyed some latitude while at Suleja Prison. This will embolden others. This is sad and terrible, just barely five years. May God save and heal Nigeria from the jaw of powerful individuals.”

An Influencer on X, @TheoAbuAgada, also expressed disappointment over Maryam’s pardon.

He said: “Maryam Sanda, sentenced to death in 2020 for the culpable homicide of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, has been granted a pardon by President Tinubu. She served six years and eight months at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre. Her family earnestly requested her release, asserting that it would greatly benefit her two children. They based their appeal on her exemplary behavior while incarcerated, her expression of remorse, and her adoption of a new way of living. Na who die lose.”

Shuaib Nafisat, a Facebook user, lamented that the murderer was set free because of her two children. She wrote: “Maryam Sanda, who was convicted for killing her husband, has reportedly been granted presidential clemency because of her two children. It makes one wonder… will AbdulRahman, the killer of Hafsah, receive the same mercy someday? Subhanallah. May we never end up with those capable of destroying the very love they once promised to protect.”

Activist and publisher, Omoyele Sowore, wrote: “Tinubu frees Maryam Sanda, a woman convicted in 2020 for the murder of her husband. A convicted murderer gets clemency because of connection. Yet Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who has never been convicted of any crime, continues to rot in detention while awaiting a sham trial. This is hypocrisy. #FreeNnamdiKanuNow.”

X user @Waspapping posted: “Maryam Sanda has been pardoned by President Tinubu. In this country, please don’t let anyone kill you, they’ll walk free, and nothing will happen.”

Another X user, @arojinle, wrote: “Yorùbá is just all round. I saw the Maryam Sanda news and just one Yorùbá statement came to mind. ‘Òni tó kú ni tiẹ̀ gbé.’ The one who dies is the ultimate loser. Don’t let them kill you o. Yorùbá!”