Family of slain husband condemns Tinubu pardon for Maryam Sanda: a reopening of pain

The family of the late Bilyaminu Ahmed Bello has publicly denounced the decision by Bola Ahmed Tinubu to pardon his widow, Maryam Sanda, who was convicted and sentenced to death for his murder. The family’s statement, released on Monday, characterises the pardon as a deeply hurtful act that re-opens wounds they had strived to heal.

According to the family’s representative, the pardon delivered “the worst possible injustice any family could be made to endure” after years of seeking closure through the courts. They emphasised that the earlier criminal verdicts—first by the Federal Capital Territory High Court on 27 January 2020, then upheld by the Federal Court of Appeal in December 2020, and by the Supreme Court of Nigeria on 27 October 2023—had offered some semblance of finality.

But in their view, the presidential pardon has undermined that sense of resolution. The family maintains that the move disregards the pain, trauma and dignity of the victim—Bilyaminu—who they say was “not just another statistic” but a beloved son, brother and friend. They argue that the pardon signals a troubling disregard for victims’ rights and the value of life.

In the statement, the family pointedly challenged the justification given for the pardon—namely, factors such as the welfare of the children and the reformation of the convict. They argue that these do not adequately account for the fact that the same children cited for sympathy were deprived of their father’s love by their mother’s act. They described the pardon as “selective mercy” and alleged that it was influenced by pressures from Sanda’s family rather than genuine accountability.

The pardoning of Maryam Sanda came as part of a broader list of 175 convicts granted clemency under the “Prerogative of Mercy” policy. The family’s message makes clear that while the law might allow such executive clemency, for them the human cost is intolerable. They assert that their healing was disrupted and that the nation’s faith in justice is weakened.

They conclude by placing their hope not in earthly redress but in divine justice. “We take solace in the knowledge that ultimate justice lies with the Supreme Judge,” the statement reads, adding that while they will continue to live with loss, they will not be silent.

In summary: a family already grieving the loss of a loved one sees the state’s decision to free the convicted killer as reopening old wounds, diminishing the value of their loss, and undermining the rule of law.