The recent clemency and pardon granted to about 175 persons for various offences has continued to elicit reactions from Nigerians, especially the clemency to Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced to death in 2020 for the murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, son of former Chairman of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Halilu Bello.
Sanda, who was sentenced to death in 2020 for culpable homicide of Bello, during a domestic dispute, had barely served six years and eight months at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre, before she was granted clemency by the President.
She was convicted by Justice Yusuf Halilu of the FCT High Court, who had found her guilty of culpable homicide for fatally stabbing Bello in 2017. The court ruled that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and sentenced her to death by hanging.
Bayo Onanuga, the President’s spokesman, stated in a statement announcing the clemency, that “Maryam Sanda, aged 37, was sentenced to death in 2020 for culpable homicide and had spent six years, eight months at Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre.”
He revealed that “her family pleaded for her release, arguing that it was in the best interest of her two children. The plea was also anchored on her good conduct in jail, her remorse, and her embracement of a new lifestyle, demonstrating her commitment to being a model prisoner.”
But critics however, believe that Sanda’s release may have been influenced by high level political lobbying as it “marks one of the most high-profile acts of presidential clemency in recent years.”
According to Imran Muhammad @Imranmuhdz, on his Social Media X handle, “Her case drew national attention for years, marked by multiple bail applications, delayed hearings, and emotional testimony.
“Sanda maintained that her husband’s death was not premeditated, claiming it happened during a quarrel.”
Other social media users, including @dambash, see the pardon as capable of “undermining the credibility of Nigeria’s justice system, as the clemency can send a dangerous message, that influence, emotion, or public sympathy can override accountability for violent crime.”
Sadam@ArcSadam, however explains that mercy does not erase justice, but rather completes it. “If Maryam Sanda, has truly changed and is ready to rebuild her life, for the sake if her children, then this pardon is an act of grace that reflects the human side of governance. Everyone deserves a second chance” he said on his X handle.
Others like @jaywest50 believe that the same pardon should have been extended to the likes of Nnamdi Kanu, who have been in the federal government custody since 2021
“Some of you here have been against the release of Nnamdi Kanu who has never killed a single human being before….your hypocrisy is top- notch.”
Also, @Has queried the rationale for selecting persons for such clemency and wondered what happened to “other women abd men found guilty of the same offence, who have served longer terms than Maryam Sanda?”, “the elite have hijacked this thing called democracy, they own it.”
Read also: Illegal miners, foreigners, capital offenders top list of Tinubu’s pardon, clemency
Another Social media user, Lolade @read1she2, noted that everything is not about knowing people, adding that “The US and UK also pardon people who commit murder in rare cases.”
Monsieur Raducal @Tunbo, said “Pardon after just 5 years in what ought to be a death sentence? They didn’t even commute it to life imprisonment or term imprisonment, just straight pardon without considering the feelings if the family of the deceased husband. This is power.”
Lawal Jr. @Auwaljunior, said “You can imagine, how do they want the family of the kate husband to feel, just after serving almost 7 years, that’s not enough justice… Mercy doesn’t erase justice.”
Also Sammy Joe @SammyJoe6, while also describing the clemency as “injustice to Bilya, and his family, wonders if the children will also forgive their mother. ” Will the kids even forgive her if they grow up to find out she killed thier father in the way she did?”
It will be recalled that Onanuga, had in the statement containing the list of those granted clemency, said Mamman Vatsa, Akubo, and Magaji Garba, amongst those granted pardon by President Bola Tinubu.
Onanuga had revealed that beneficiaries include Illegal miners, white-collar convicts, remorseful drug offenders, foreigners, are amongst those granted pardon and clemency and approved by the National Council of State, on Thursday.
The list of capital offenders including Maryam Sanda, Ken Saro Wiwa, and the other Ogoni Eight were also among the 175 convicts and former convicts who received President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s mercy on Thursday.
President Tinubu had granted clemency to most of them based on the reports that the convicts had shown remorse and good conduct.
The statement said the President forgave some due to old age, the acquisition of new vocational skills, or enrolment in the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN).
According to him “President Tinubu also corrected the historic injustice committed by British colonialists against Sir Herbert Macaulay, one of Nigeria’s foremost nationalists.”
In all, the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, chaired by Lateef Fagbemi, the Attorney-General and Justice Minister, had recommended pardon for two inmates, 15 former convicts, 11 of whom have died.
The committee recommended clemency for 82 inmates and commutation of sentences for 65 inmates. Seven inmates on death row also benefited from the Presidential reprieve. The committee recommended that the President should commute their death sentences to life imprisonment.
Fagbemi presented the committee’s report at the Council of State meeting, chaired by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The list also included Nweke Chibueze, aged 44, serving a life sentence at Kirikiri for cocaine, Nwogu Peters, aged 67; Serving a One-year jail term for fraud. Sentenced in 2013, and Anastasia Nwaoba, aged 63, who already served a sentence for fraud.
Others include Hussaini Umar, aged 58. Sentenced in 2023 to pay a fine of N150M in the case by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission ICPC case, Ayinla Alanamu, age 63, who was sentenced to seven years for bribery in 2019 and has served the sentence.
Farouk Lawan, aged 62, who was also sentenced to five years in 2021 for corrupt practices and had served the sentence, was also granted a pardon, amongst others.
