Daniel Otera
On October 13, 2025, President Bola Tinubu granted a presidential pardon to Maryam Sanda, commuting her death sentence for the 2017 murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello. This decision, which is part of a broader clemency for 175 individuals including drug traffickers has sparked widespread outrage across Nigeria. Critics have pointed to signs of elite impunity in the country’s justice system, questioning the fairness and consistency of such decisions.
Maryam Sanda, now 37 years old, had spent nearly seven years in the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre after being convicted in January 2020 by a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja. She was sentenced to death for culpable homicide following the violent killing of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello. The case attracted significant public attention due to the high-profile nature of the victim’s family Bilyaminu was the son of former National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki.
The tragic incident occurred on November 11, 2017, during an altercation at their home in the affluent Maitama district of Abuja. Sanda discovered text messages on her husband’s phone, leading to a violent confrontation. After an argument over suspected infidelity, Sanda stabbed Bello multiple times in the chest. Despite attempts to rush him to the hospital, Bello, aged 29, died from his injuries.
During her trial, Sanda denied using a knife or inflicting the fatal wounds, claiming that their marriage had been marked by domestic disputes. However, witnesses including family members and medical experts testified that the attack was severe, with forensic evidence confirming that stab wounds were the cause of death. Justice Halilu Yusuf, in his ruling, declared, “You, Maryam Sanda, are guilty of the murder of your husband whom you indeed killed in cold blood. You are hereby convicted of murder as charged.” The conviction drew both appeals and public outcry, particularly given the victim’s family connections.
The presidential pardon has been met with shock and dismay, with many Nigerians questioning the justice system’s consistency. Critics argue that granting clemency to someone convicted of a high-profile murder, while others are pardoned for lesser crimes, highlights the influence of the political elite on Nigeria’s legal processes, raising doubts about the impartiality of the justice system.
Tinubu’s pardon extended to 173 others, covering a range of offenses from drug trafficking 53 cases alone to kidnapping, armed robbery, and corruption. The Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, chaired by Attorney-General Lateef Fagbemi, recommended these releases after reviewing applications.
Among the beneficiaries are historical figures like poet Ken Saro-Wiwa and military officer Mamman Vatsa, both granted posthumous pardons, and former lawmaker Farouk Lawan, whose sentence was reduced.
The list was approved by the Council of State on October 10, 2025, and many inmates were released immediately.
Social media reactions were swift, with widespread frustration over what many perceive as leniency towards the powerful. One post on X, formerly Twitter, read, “Nigerians have expressed outrage on social media following news that Maryam Sanda, who was convicted in 2020 for the murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, has been granted a presidential pardon by President Bola Tinubu.”
A lawyer also weighed in, commenting, “President Tinubu’s pardon of Maryam Sanda, convicted of killing her husband, has sparked outrage and debate. Let’s look at it strictly from a lawyer’s point of view.”
Opposition leader Atiku Abubakar criticized the move, saying, “The decision to extend clemency to individuals convicted of grave crimes such as drug trafficking, kidnapping, murder, and corruption not only undermines deterrence but also erodes public trust in our justice system.”
Activist Ifeanyi Onoh called for a reversal, stating, “Clemency: Onoh prays Tinubu to reverse pardon on Maryam Sanda, drug convicts,” citing risks to diplomatic credibility and Nigeria’s declining ranking in the Transparency International 2024 corruption index.
These reactions reflect broader concerns that such pardons can be seen as a betrayal to victims, especially in cases involving violence or abuse of power.
The Prerogative of Mercy: A Constitutional Tool with Political Implications
The prerogative of mercy is a constitutional power vested in the President of Nigeria, allowing them to grant pardons or clemency to individuals convicted of crimes. While this power is intended to decongest prisons, promote rehabilitation, and offer second chances, its increasing use over the past decade has raised questions about fairness, transparency, and its impact on the judiciary.
Between 2015 and 2025, the number of pardons granted in Nigeria surged. Under former President Muhammadu Buhari (2015–2023), the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy processed over 3,000 applications, granting clemency to approximately 500 inmates annually by 2020. This marked a significant rise from 350 in 2015, attributed largely to efforts to alleviate the overcrowding in Nigeria’s prisons, which were operating at over 150% of their capacity by 2020.
In 2025, under President Tinubu, pardons reached an all-time high, with 175 individuals receiving clemency in a single batch the largest since 2015. This increase coincided with a 25% rise in the nation’s prison population, which had swelled to over 80,000 inmates far exceeding the Nigerian Correctional Service’s official capacity of 50,000. Critics argue that these pardons serve political purposes, benefiting powerful individuals with alleged ties to corruption.
One primary justification for granting pardons is to address the critical issue of prison overcrowding. Despite this intention, the pardons have paradoxically failed to reduce overcrowding in the long term. By 2025, Nigerian prisons were still operating at 160% of their official capacity, highlighting the systemic issues within the penal system.
The use of pardons, particularly for politically connected individuals, has ignited widespread criticism. Many legal experts contend that pardons for elites undermine the rule of law and perpetuate a culture of impunity. Reports from Transparency International suggest that 60% of pardoned elites between 2018 and 2023 had connections to political patronage. These releases have fueled accusations that the pardon system is being weaponized for political gain, rather than for humanitarian reasons.
The declining conviction rates for corruption-related offenses dropping from 72% in 2015 to just 45% in 2024 are a concerning trend, with critics arguing that pardons for influential figures contribute to the erosion of deterrence in the fight against corruption.
The case of Maryam Sanda also highlights the ongoing struggle for gender justice in Nigeria. Her pardon raises troubling questions, especially when viewed in the context of Nigeria’s ongoing battle against femicide. While the country continues to grapple with one of the highest rates of unreported femicides globally, Sanda’s clemency seems to offer a dangerous precedent: a female perpetrator of homicide receives leniency while the victims of gender-based violence many of whom suffer in silence receive little recourse.
Femicide, the gender-based killing of women, remains one of the most pressing and underreported issues in Nigeria. In the first quarter of 2025, 27 femicide cases were confirmed, yet experts believe the true number is at least three times higher due to underreporting. Over 1,200 femicides go unreported annually, reflecting the systemic barriers women face in accessing justice.
Despite legal reforms like the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP) of 2015, which has been adopted by 35 states, implementation remains a challenge. A 2024 World Food Programme study found that only 12% of victims of domestic violence accessed legal aid, primarily due to limited resources and bureaucratic inefficiencies.
Public confidence in Nigeria’s judiciary has sharply declined in recent years. A 2024 survey revealed that 55% of Nigerians believed the judiciary was corrupt, reflecting growing disillusionment with the legal system. The perception that justice is not equally applied particularly when high-ranking individuals are involved has led to a further erosion of trust in the rule of law.
The increase in pardons for politically exposed persons and the falling conviction rates for corruption have only deepened this crisis. Without greater transparency, fairer legal procedures, and more accountability, Nigeria risks further undermining its democratic institutions.
The rising frequency of pardons, especially in cases involving corruption and political figures, calls for significant reforms in Nigeria’s justice system. While pardons may be intended to alleviate prison overcrowding, they have, in practice, raised serious concerns about fairness, political influence, and the erosion of trust in public institutions.
To restore public faith in the system, Nigeria needs greater transparency in the pardon process and clearer criteria for granting clemency. Additionally, the government must focus on addressing the root causes of overcrowding in prisons, such as poor infrastructure, ineffective rehabilitation programs, and slow judicial processes.
The case of Maryam Sanda is a stark reminder of the need for gender-sensitive reforms in Nigeria’s legal system. While legal frameworks like the VAPP Act represent significant strides, challenges in enforcement, coupled with cultural stigma and low conviction rates, continue to hinder justice for victims of gender-based violence.
By strengthening legal frameworks, improving access to legal aid, and addressing systemic corruption, Nigeria can take a crucial step toward ensuring that its judiciary serves all citizens fairly and justly without fear or favor.