Maryam Sanda, sentenced to death in 2020 for killing husband, gets presidential pardon

Following the release of the full list of those granted pardon and clemency on Friday by President Bola Tinubu, one name has grabbed public attention and left tongues wagging: Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced to death in 2020 for killing her husband.

Back in 2017 when the incident happened, her story made headlines. The victim, Buliaminu Bello, was the nephew of ex-minister and former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bello Haliru.

On Saturday, November 18, 2017, at about 3.50 am, Maryam stabbed her husband in the neck, chest and genitals while he was asleep at their house in Maitama, Abuja, over accusations of infidelity, the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, which prosecuted the case at the time, revealed.

Her husband died from his wounds.

Maryam Sanda’s mother, Maimuna Aliyu, and her brother Aliyu Sanda, were also charged for their roles in the murder. They were accused of tampering with evidence after allegedly cleaning the apartment to remove blood stains. Both were later left off the hook.

But in his statement on Saturday, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said Sanda was granted presidential pardon because her family begged for her release, saying it was in the best interest of her two children.

The statement added that her pardon was also based on her good conduct in jail, her remorse and Sanda’s adoption of a new way of life.