The family of late Bilyaminu Bello has voiced deep outrage and disappointment over President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent decision to grant a presidential pardon to Maryam Sanda, the woman convicted for the brutal murder of their son. The controversial pardon, which has since sparked a wave of reactions across Nigeria, has been described by the family as a painful blow that reopens old wounds and undermines the sanctity of justice.
Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced to death by hanging in 2020 after being found guilty of killing her husband during a domestic altercation in 2017, was among the 175 inmates freed under the President’s prerogative of mercy policy. The announcement came as part of an Independence Day clemency list, which included prisoners deemed to have shown “good behavior and remorse.”
However, members of the Bello family have strongly rejected the justification for her release. In a statement signed by Dr. Bello Mohammed on behalf of the family, they expressed their disbelief and anger, calling the pardon “a cruel mockery of justice” and “the worst possible injustice that could be inflicted on a grieving family.”
‘A cruel twist of justice,’ family laments
According to the statement, the decision by President Tinubu has “reopened the wounds of a painful loss” and erased years of painstaking judicial processes that affirmed Sanda’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The family emphasised that both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court upheld her death sentence, which had brought them a sense of closure — a sense now shattered by the presidential pardon.
“It is heartbreaking to see that after all the evidence, all the legal battles, and all the pain we endured, the Federal Government has chosen to free a convicted murderer,” the family said. “This act undermines our justice system, disregards the sanctity of life, and sends a dangerous message that powerful influences can overturn even the clearest verdicts.”
‘No remorse, no justice,’ statement continues
The Bello family further noted that throughout her trial and imprisonment, Maryam Sanda never expressed genuine remorse for her actions, and her attitude reflected a lack of accountability. They added that her sudden release “trivialises a cold-blooded murder” and disrespects the memory of the late Bilyaminu, who was a promising young man and a beloved member of their family.
They described the decision as “politically motivated” and an example of misplaced empathy, suggesting that the pardon was granted without adequate consideration of the impact on victims’ families and society’s faith in the rule of law.
Tinubu’s clemency sparks public backlash
The pardon has since generated widespread public outrage, with legal experts, activists, and citizens questioning the criteria used in selecting those who benefited. Critics argue that granting mercy to someone convicted of a high-profile murder case undermines judicial authority and could encourage impunity for violent crimes, especially domestic violence.
Supporters of the President’s decision, however, claim that the prerogative of mercy is a constitutional right aimed at promoting rehabilitation and forgiveness, especially when the convict has served part of their sentence and shown signs of reform. Yet, for the Bello family, the pain remains raw and justice, undone.
‘We leave judgment to God,’ family concludes
Concluding their statement, the Bello family said that while they have lost faith in the justice system, they believe divine justice will prevail. “We may not get human justice anymore, but we trust in God, the ultimate judge. One day, true justice will be served in His court,” they declared.
The case of Maryam Sanda continues to stir emotional debates nationwide, serving as a test of moral balance between mercy and justice in Nigeria’s governance and legal framework.