Family of Murdered Nigerian Man Rejects Presidential Pardon of Wife's Killer

The family of Bilyaminu Ahmed Bello, a Nigerian man murdered by his wife, Maryam Sanda, in 2017, has expressed outrage and pain over the presidential pardon granted to her husband's killer. The family had expected justice to be served, with Sanda being sentenced to death by hanging in January 2020. However, President Bola Tinubu recently granted pardon to Maryam Sanda, citing her reformation, remorse, and the need to allow her to reunite with her children. The family rejects this decision, stating that it has reopened their healing wounds and inflicted inexpressible pain on them.

Key Takeaways:

• Bilyaminu Ahmed Bello was murdered by his wife, Maryam Sanda, in 2017, and was recently granted a presidential pardon by President Bola Tinubu.
• The pardon was granted to Sanda after nearly seven years in custody, following a prolonged trial and appeals process that found her guilty of culpable homicide and sentenced her to death by hanging.
• The family of Bilyaminu Ahmed Bello expresses deep hurt and pain over the decision, stating that it has reopened their healing wounds and inflicted inexpressible pain on them.
• The family believes that the pardon was primarily driven by the sole motivation of appeasing Maryam's family members, rather than serving justice for the victim and his family.
• Bilyaminu Ahmed Bello's family took solace in the judgements and moved on, but the recent pardon has reopened their healing wounds, causing them to relive the pain of losing their loved one.
• The family notes that the alleged grounds for Maryam Sanda's release were predicated on appeals from her family, amongst other considerations, and that they are not aware of any remorse shown by Sanda throughout the saga.
• Bilyaminu Ahmed Bello's family has issued a statement to humanise the victim, who they say is now being made to appear as if he is just another faceless anonymous individual in the long line of victims of crimes in the country.
• The family also notes that Maryam Sanda had denied her children the opportunity to know what a father's love and care means, as she had earlier on denied them knowledge of their father's existence.

Statistics:

• November 19, 2017: The day on which Maryam Sanda stabbed her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, to death during a domestic dispute.
• January 2020: The month and year in which Maryam Sanda was sentenced to death by hanging by the Federal Capital Territory High Court.
• 2020 (December 4): The day on which the Federal Court of Appeal upheld the death sentence of Maryam Sanda.
• 2023 (October 27): The day on which the Supreme Court also upheld the death sentence of Maryam Sanda.
• 2025 (October 11): The day on which President Bola Tinubu granted pardon to Maryam Sanda, along with 174 other inmates, citing her reformation, remorse, and the need to allow her to reunite with her children.
• 175: The total number of inmates granted pardon by President Bola Tinubu on October 11, 2025.

Sources:

• A statement signed by Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed on behalf of the late Bilyaminu Ahmed Bello's family, titled: 'When Prerogative of Mercy Inflicts Inexorable Pain'.
• Presidential pardon granted to Maryam Sanda and 174 other inmates on October 11, 2025.