OUTRAGE AS FAMILY OF MURDERED BILYAMINU BELLO REJECTS PRESIDENTIAL PARDON FOR MARYAM SANDA
Mohammed Tikka
The family of the late Bilyaminu Bello has condemned the recent presidential pardon granted to Maryam Sanda, the woman convicted of his murder, calling it a “cruel injustice” that has reopened painful wounds.
Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced to death in 2020 for stabbing her husband Bilyaminu to death in their Abuja home during a domestic dispute, was recently granted clemency by President Bola Tinubu. The pardon has sparked strong reactions from the victim’s family, who say they were blindsided and devastated by the decision.
Dr. Bello Haliru Muhammad, a senior member of the family, expressed deep disappointment, stating that the pardon dishonours Bilyaminu’s memory and denies justice to his children and loved ones.
“Our son Bilyaminu was a beloved son, friend, and associate who was denied the opportunity to live and raise his children,” Dr. Muhammad said. “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 family also alleged that the pardon was influenced by connections from Maryam’s side, describing the decision as one that prioritized appeasement over justice.
“We fault the rationale behind the pardon, which we believe was influenced by Maryam’s family. This development is hurtful and insensitive. It sends a dangerous message that justice can be negotiated, depending on who you know,” Dr. Muhammad added.
The Bello family insists that the pain of losing Bilyaminu has been made worse by what they see as a deliberate disregard for their grief.
“This act has not only reopened our wounds but has inflicted new ones. The teeming members of our family, friends, and associates who are still trying to heal from this tragedy are now being asked to watch the person responsible for it walk free, as though nothing happened.”
Maryam Sanda was convicted after a highly publicized trial that found her guilty of murdering Bilyaminu during a fight reportedly triggered by accusations of infidelity. The case drew national attention and was widely seen as a test of Nigeria’s stance on domestic violence and justice.
With this pardon, the Bello family fears justice has not only been denied but erased.