Family of slain Bello condemns President Tinubu’s pardon of Maryam Sanda

‎The family of late Bilyaminu Bello has strongly condemned President Bola Tinubu’s decision to pardon Maryam Sanda, his convicted wife, describing the move as a grave injustice that reopens their wounds.
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‎Maryam Sanda was convicted by the FCT High Court on January 27, 2020, for the premeditated murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, whom she stabbed to death at their Abuja home on November 19, 2017.
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‎The court’s judgment was upheld by the Court of Appeal the same year and later affirmed by the Supreme Court in October 2023. After years of judicial process, the family had found some closure. However, the family expressed deep pain and disappointment after Sanda was included among the 175 inmates recently pardoned nationwide under the Prerogative of Mercy by President Tinubu.
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‎The pardon followed alleged appeals from Sanda’s family, a decision the Bello family believes disregards the gravity of the crime and the feelings of victims’ loved ones.
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‎The family claimed Sanda showed no remorse throughout the saga and faulted the government for prioritising appeasement over justice. They accused authorities of dehumanising Bilyaminu by reducing his memory to a statistic.
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