The family of the late Bilyaminu Ahmed Bello has expressed profound disappointment over the recent presidential pardon granted to Maryam Sanda, who was convicted and sentenced to death for his murder in 2020.
In a statement released on Monday and signed by Dr. Bello Haliu Mohammed (OFR), Dangaladiman Gwandu, on behalf of the family, they characterized the clemency as an action that “inflicts inexorable pain” and reopens old wounds that had barely begun to heal.
The family remarked that whereas they had chosen silence over the years as a token of respect for due process and the well-being of the two children of the deceased, the recent development had forced them to make their views public.
Sanda was convicted by the Federal Capital Territory High Court on Jan. 27, 2020, for the murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, which occurred on Nov. 19, 2017. Her conviction and death sentence were upheld by both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court in 2020 and 2023, respectively.
The family said they had accepted the court’s rulings as justice served and had sought to move on from the tragedy. However, they expressed shock and dismay that Sanda was among the 175 persons recently granted presidential pardon under the Prerogative of Mercy.
“To have Maryam Sanda walk the face of the earth again, free from any blemish for her heinous crime as if she had merely squashed an ant, is the worst possible injustice any family could be made to go through,” the statement read in part.
It added that the decision to grant Sanda clemency appeared to be motivated by appeals from her family while disregarding the grief and pain of the victim’s relatives, friends, and associates.
The family emphasised that Bilyaminu was not just another anonymous victim of crime but a cherished family member whose death left an indelible void.
They also noted that Sanda had “shown no remorse” throughout her trial and that her release undermines public confidence in the justice system.
“We interpret this pardon as an attempt to appease one family at the expense of another’s unending pain,” the family said.
In addition, they prayed for the soul of the late Bilyaminu to rest in peace and for divine guidance to be bestowed upon his children, while affirming their faith that ultimate justice is in God’s hands.
