Public Outrage as Tinubu Grants Clemency to Maryam Sanda, Convicted Husband-Killer, While Nnamdi Kanu Remains Detained

Nigerians have taken to social media to express outrage following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to grant clemency to Maryam Sanda, the woman convicted in 2020 for the murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, the son of a former PDP chairman.

The case, which dominated national headlines at the time, ended with Sanda sentenced to death by hanging after a Federal Capital Territory High Court found her guilty of stabbing her husband to death during a domestic altercation.

Now, her release through presidential pardon has reignited debates about justice, privilege, and inequality before the law in Nigeria.

Many Nigerians say the only lesson from the tragic case remains clear: “Flee from any abusive relationship — you may not be alive to share your experience.”

Critics argue that Sanda’s freedom reflects a two-tier justice system, where the powerful or connected can evade full accountability.

“A convicted murderer gets clemency because of connection,” one commentator wrote. “Meanwhile, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who has never been convicted of any crime, continues to rot in detention awaiting a sham trial.”

The contrast between Sanda’s release and Kanu’s continued incarceration has further stirred anger and disillusionment among citizens, particularly those who believe the justice system has been politicized.

Legal analysts warn that such selective pardons undermine public confidence in the judiciary and embolden impunity among the elite.

As reactions continue to pour in, rights advocates are calling for greater transparency and fairness in the clemency process, urging the government to ensure that justice in Nigeria is not determined by status, wealth, or political connections.