The family of the late Bilyaminu Bello has voiced strong opposition to the presidential pardon granted to his wife, Maryam Sanda, who was convicted and sentenced to death for his murder. They described the clemency as “a grave injustice” that has reopened old wounds. In a statement released on Monday, Dr. Bello Mohammed, speaking on behalf of the family, said President Bola Tinubu’s decision to include Sanda among 175 inmates pardoned under the Prerogative of Mercy had disregarded the suffering of the victim’s loved ones. “To see Maryam Sanda walk free after committing such a brutal crime is the worst possible injustice any family could face,” the statement said. The family recalled that Sanda was convicted by the FCT High Court on January 27, 2020, for the premeditated murder of her husband. The conviction was later upheld by the Court of Appeal on December 4, 2020, and affirmed by the Supreme Court on October 27, 2023. The family said the rulings had provided some closure, despite Sanda showing “no remorse at any point.” “This development, coming just a few years after Bilyaminu’s tragic death, has reopened our deepest wounds,” the statement added. The family criticized the Federal Government, alleging that the pardon was influenced by appeals from Sanda’s relatives and failed to consider the pain inflicted on Bilyaminu’s family. “The pardon seems aimed at appeasing Maryam Sanda’s family while completely ignoring the agony of Bilyaminu’s grieving loved ones,” the statement said. They also accused the government of undermining the judicial process and diminishing the significance of Bilyaminu’s life, reducing him to “just another statistic” among crime victims. The family highlighted the impact on Sanda’s children, noting that they were deprived of their father’s love and care. “The grounds for her release relied partly on appeals from her family, yet Bilyaminu’s life and love for his children were equally important,” the statement said. Despite their grief, the family said they trust in divine justice. “We take solace in knowing that ultimate justice rests with the Supreme Judge, who will settle this matter on the Day of Recompense,” they said. Maryam Sanda was among 175 inmates granted clemency last week under the Prerogative of Mercy, a policy that allows the President to pardon prisoners on humanitarian grounds. She was convicted in 2020 for fatally stabbing her husband at their Abuja home on November 19, 2017.
