President Bola Tinubu has granted clemency to Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced to death in 2020 for the murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello.
Sanda had spent six years and eight months at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre before her release under the presidential pardon.
Her family had repeatedly appealed for her freedom, citing her good conduct in prison and her remorse over the incident. They also said her release would allow her to reunite with and care for her two children.
Sanda was convicted by the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja for the culpable homicide of Bello, the son of a former Peoples Democratic Party chairman, Haliru Bello. The case drew widespread attention at the time, sparking debate about domestic violence and justice in Nigeria.
Her inclusion in the list of pardoned inmates comes as part of the federal government’s broader effort to decongest prisons and extend mercy to reformed offenders.
