The family of the late Bilyaminu Bello has rejected the presidential clemency granted to Maryam Sanda, who was convicted and sentenced to death for the murder of her husband.
Reports that Ms Sanda was among 175 inmates granted pardon by President Bola Tinubu under the Prerogative of Mercy initiative.
The presidential decision has provoked widespread outrage, particularly because of the high-profile nature of the case, which had symbolised justice for victims of domestic violence.
A statement released on Monday by Bello Haliru Mohammed on behalf of Mr Bello’s family, said the decision was described as “the worst possible injustice any family could be made to go through.”
The family said the pardon represents “a cruel reopening of healing wounds” and a “grave injustice to the memory of their loved one.”
“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 for a loved one,” the statement partly read.
The family noted that Ms Sanda had shown “no remorse even for a fleeting moment throughout the saga.”
“Satisfied that justice had finally been served, the judgment provided some closure of sorts. Although the perpetrator had shown no remorse, the grieving family took solace in the court’s verdict and painfully moved on. This latest turn of events, however, has reopened our healing wounds,” the family added.
The statement expressed deep disappointment that, despite the gravity of the crime and the exhaustive judicial process, the Federal Government still chose to extend clemency to Ms Sanda — reportedly following “appeals from her family.”
“We interpret this decision as driven by the sole motivation of appeasing Maryam’s family, while conveniently ignoring the corresponding inexorable pain now inflicted on the victim’s grieving family, friends and associates,” the statement said.
The Bello family accused the government of undermining the judicial process and disregarding the feelings of the deceased’s loved ones, saying the decision had dehumanised their son and reduced him to “a mere statistic.”
“We are compelled to issue this formal statement to humanise Bilyaminu, who is now suddenly being made to appear as just another faceless victim in the country,” the family said.
They stressed that their late son was “a cherished family member, profoundly loved and deeply mourned by relations, friends, and associates following the gruesome murder eight years ago.”
The statement also condemned what it described as emotional manipulation surrounding Ms Sanda’s release, noting that “Maryam 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.”
Concluding, the family said they take solace only in divine justice: “We take solace in the simple fact that in such matters, ultimate and comprehensive justice resides with the Supreme Judge, our Creator, who will dispense this matter on the Day of Recompense.”
