Tinubu removes Maryam Sanda, other felons, from Presidential pardon list

President Bola Tinubu has removed Maryam Sanda and other individuals convicted of serious crimes from a recently granted pardon list.

The initial clemency, announced on October 11, 2025, had sparked widespread criticism after it included Sanda, who was sentenced to death in 2020 for the murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello.

The list also contained individuals convicted for kidnapping, drug trafficking, human trafficking, fraud, and illegal firearms offenses.

According to a statement by Bayo Onanuga, the review was conducted after consultations with the Council of State and consideration of public opinion.

The Presidency stated that the decision to alter the list was driven by security concerns, sensitivity to crime victims, and the need to maintain public trust in the justice system.

Maryam Sanda was convicted of stabbing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello—the son of a former PDP National Chairman—to death during a heated argument at their Abuja home in November 2017.

The case garnered significant national attention.

In January 2020, Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court sentenced her to death by hanging for culpable homicide.

She had been held at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre until her brief release under the now-rescinded pardon.

The original decision to grant her clemency was based on recommendations from the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, which cited her good conduct, remorse, and status as a mother of two young children.

However, this justification was met with outrage and disbelief by many Nigerians on social media platforms.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled: Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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