Human rights activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for granting presidential pardon to Maryam Sanda, who was convicted in 2020 for the murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello.
Sowore, in a post on his official X account on Saturday, condemned what he described as hypocrisy in the administration’s approach to justice, noting that Sanda — a convicted murderer — was freed while Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), remains in custody despite not being convicted of any crime.
“Tinubu frees Maryam Sands, a woman convicted in 2020 for the murder of her husband. A convicted murderer gets clemency because of connection. Yet Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who has never been convicted of any crime, continues to rot in detention while awaiting a sham trial. This is hypocrisy.
#FreeNnamdiKanuNow,” Sowore wrote.
The activist’s remarks followed Thursday’s announcement that President Tinubu had granted clemency to 175 convicts and former convicts, including Sanda, late environmentalist Ken Saro-Wiwa, and nationalist Sir Herbert Macaulay.
READ ALSO: Sowore Blasts Tinubu Over Pardons, Faults Exclusion of Nnamdi Kanu
According to the State House statement signed by presidential aide Bayo Onanuga, Sanda was pardoned after spending six years and eight months in prison, with the decision reportedly based on her good conduct, remorse, and commitment to rehabilitation.
Sowore’s reaction has since sparked debate across social media, with many Nigerians questioning the fairness of the presidential pardon list and urging the government to demonstrate equal justice for all citizens, regardless of status or political affiliation.