Tinubu’s pardon for Maryam Sanda has reopened our healing wounds, says family of murdered husband
By BASHIR ADEFAKA
“This latest turn of events—coming just a few years after the dastardly crime that cruelly cut short Bilyaminu’s life—has, however, reopened our healing wounds. 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 endure for a loved one.”
Family of the late Bilyaminu Ahmed Bello, who was murdered in 2017 by his wife Maryam Sanda, has reacted to presidential pardon recently granted to the already sentenced murderer by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Maryam was arrested in November 2017 for killing the husband and was sentenced to death by a Federal High Court in the country in 2020. But, surprisingly, Maryam has been granted state pardon by President Tinubu and the aggrieved family has reacted.
In a statement issued and signed by Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed, OFR (Dangaladiman Gwandu) for the Family of the Late Bilyaminu Ahmed Bello dated Monday, October 13, 2025, the Tinubu’s action was described as painful.
Against claim by Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, that some of the pardoned including Maryam Sanda had shown remorse, the family said the satisfaction they had was in the justice they got, “if there was ever” one, from the criminal’s sentence as the perpetrator showed no remorse, even fleetingly, throughout the saga.
The latest development of Tinubu’s pardon few years after justice has been served, the family expressed, has reopened their healing wounds.
The statement stated in full that, “In exercise of his discretionary power and authority to grant clemency under the Prerogative of Mercy principle, His Excellency, Mr. President, recently granted Presidential pardons to a total of 175 convicted persons serving jail sentences for various criminal offences. Some of those on the list included individuals on death row, and others who were pardoned posthumously.
“One name that stood out for us as a family is that of Maryam Sanda, a lady convicted and sentenced to death by the FCT High Court on Monday, 27th January 2020, for the premeditated and cold-blooded murder of her husband and our beloved family member, the late Bilyaminu Ahmed Bello.
“Considering the delicate and sensitive nature of the situation involving the two innocent children of the deceased, the family has deliberately refrained from making any public statement or comment since the unfortunate incident that occurred on the fateful night of Sunday, 19th November 2017. This was despite several sponsored publications from the accused perpetrator’s camp containing falsehoods against the deceased, without regard for the children’s best interest.
“We instead placed our trust and abiding confidence in the nation’s judicial process to run its full course and deliver justice for the deceased and his family. The appeals process reaffirmed the FCT High Court’s death sentence through the judgments of the Federal Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court, delivered on Friday, 4th December 2020, and Friday, 27th October 2023, respectively.
“Satisfied that justice had finally been served, the judgment provided some closure—if ever there could truly be one. Although the perpetrator had shown no remorse, even fleetingly, throughout the saga, the grieving family took solace in the judgments and moved on, having painfully come to terms with the fate that life had thrust upon one of our own.
“This latest turn of events—coming just a few years after the dastardly crime that cruelly cut short Bilyaminu’s life—has, however, reopened our healing wounds. 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 endure for a loved one.
“We are, therefore, compelled to issue this formal statement to humanise Bilyaminu, who is now being made to appear as just another faceless, anonymous victim of crime in the country—a mere statistic.
“The alleged grounds for Maryam Sanda’s release were predicated on appeals from her family, among other considerations. It is pertinent to stress that Bilyaminu was also a cherished family member—profoundly loved and deeply mourned by his numerous relations, friends, and close associates following the unfortunate incident that resulted in his gruesome murder eight years ago.
“Maryam, let us not forget, had earlier denied the same children—now used to elicit sympathy and secure her release—the opportunity to know what a father’s love and care mean.
“Bilyaminu’s family is deeply hurt by this latest development, which we interpret as primarily driven by the desire to appease Maryam’s family by extending mercy to a convicted murderer, while overlooking the inexorable pain now inflicted on the deceased’s grieving family, friends, and associates as a result of this action.
“We take solace in the fact that, in such matters, ultimate and comprehensive justice resides solely with the Supreme Judge and our Creator, who will dispense true justice on the Day of Recompense, where no one can intercede on behalf of another.
“We beseech Almighty Allah (SWT) to grant the soul of our dear Bilyaminu eternal rest and grant us the fortitude to continue to bear his sad loss even in light of this latest development. May Allah also be with his children at every turn of their lives and raise them to be good, obedient Muslims and patriotic Nigerians. Ameen,” the statement said.
