“Tinubu considered her kids” – Presidency speaks on Maryam Sanda’s clemency

The Presidency on Thursday explained why Maryam Sanda who was sentenced to death for killing her husband was granted clemency.

Sanda, who had spent a total of six years in prison for murder, had her death sentence reduced to 12 years’ imprisonment by the president.

The reduction in the death sentence followed an anoutrage from Nigerians and leaders of the country after the president pardoned Sanda, other convicts and exconvicts who had committed several offences.

However, explaining Bola Tinubu’s decision, Bayo Onanuga, the special adviser to the president on information and strategy said contrary to many’s belief, Sanda was not pardoned but given clemency.

Speaking during an interview on Arise Television’s Prime Time, Onanuga said Sanda’s kids were also put into consideration.

“This president is not the one who is afraid to reverse himself. He’s been considerate about this. He’s a human being, who can make mistakes and he listens to the public.

“Maryam Sanda was given clemency, not pardon. Her kids were put into consideration. It was a crime of passion not premeditated.

“Anything can happen between a man and a woman in the heat of the moment. The president is moved by compassion,” Onanuga said.

Recall that Sanda was sentenced in 2020 following the murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello during a domestic dispute.

In his judgment, Justice Yusuf Halilu held that Sanda fatally stabbed her husband to death with a kitchen knife.

The judge also held that the prosecution had beyond a reasonable doubt proved that Sanda committed the said crime.