The father of the late Bilyaminu Bello, Alhaji Ahmed Bello Isa, has said he feels at peace with President Bola Tinubu’s decision to grant a presidential pardon to his daughter-in-law, Maryam Sanda, who was convicted for the death of his son.
Speaking in Abuja alongside Maryam’s father, Alhaji Garba Sanda, Alhaji Bello said his appeal for clemency was born purely out of faith and humanity, not sentiment.
He revealed that since Maryam’s conviction, he had been quietly pleading for her release, believing that her execution would only deepen the pain already borne by both families.
“As a Muslim, I have accepted what happened. I have forgiven her and left judgment to Allah,” he said calmly.
Reacting to reports that some relatives disagreed with his position, Alhaji Bello maintained that forgiveness was a personal decision rooted in faith.
“Vengeance cannot bring back my son, but forgiveness can bring peace — to my family, her family, and to the children who have suffered enough,” he said.
Records show that Alhaji Bello began seeking mercy for Maryam as far back as 2019. In letters addressed to the then Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), and the FCT Commissioner of Police, he appealed for the withdrawal of the case, emphasizing that he had forgiven whoever was responsible for his son’s death.
He also swore an affidavit before the FCT High Court on June 21, 2019, reaffirming his forgiveness and urging that the prosecution be discontinued in accordance with Islamic principles.
In a follow-up letter dated December 16, 2024, titled “Request for Exercise of Prerogative of Mercy for My Daughter-in-Law, Maryam Sanda Sentenced to Death by Hanging,” Alhaji Bello wrote passionately:
“There is nothing more painful than losing a son the way I lost Bilyaminu. What gives me comfort is that he left behind two beautiful children. I have forgiven Maryam. Before the end of the trial, I told both the Police and the Court that I did not want her prosecuted. If she is killed, who will take care of the children?”
He lamented that since Maryam’s sentencing in 2020, the children had only been able to see their mother during rare visits to the Suleja Correctional Facility — moments he described as “heartbreaking for innocent children.”
Also speaking, Maryam’s father, Alhaji Garba Sanda, expressed deep gratitude to Alhaji Bello for what he described as a “rare act of mercy and faith in Allah.”
“Words cannot express our appreciation to the Bello family. Alhaji Bello has stood for forgiveness from the very beginning — writing letters, recording appeals, and showing compassion even when others would have chosen anger,” he said.
He noted that both families had remained in cordial contact since the tragedy, working quietly toward reconciliation and healing.
“May this forgiveness bring peace to both families and hope to the children who must now grow up surrounded by love, not pain,” he prayed.