By ZAGAZOLA MAKAMA

The family of the late Bilyaminu Ahmed Bello has expressed deep disappointment over the recent presidential pardon granted to Maryam Sanda who was convicted and sentenced to death for his murder in 2020.

In a statement issued on Monday and signed by Dr. Bello Haliu Mohammed (OFR), Dangaladiman Gwandu, on behalf of the family, they described the clemency as an act that “inflicts inexorable pain” and reopens old wounds that had barely begun to heal.

The family said that while they had chosen silence over the years out of respect for due process and the welfare of the two children of the deceased, the recent development had forced them to speak publicly.

Sanda was convicted by the Federal Capital Territory High Court on Jan. 27, 2020, for the murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, which occurred on Nov. 19, 2017. Her conviction and death sentence were upheld by both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court in 2020 and 2023, respectively.

The family said they had accepted the court’s rulings as justice served and had sought to move on from the tragedy. However, they expressed shock and dismay that Sanda was among the 175 persons recently granted presidential pardon under the Prerogative of Mercy.

“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 statement read in part.

It added that the decision to grant Sanda clemency appeared to be motivated by appeals from her family while disregarding the grief and pain of the victim’s relatives, friends, and associates.

The family emphasized that Bilyaminu was not just another anonymous victim of crime but a cherished family member whose death left an indelible void.

They also noted that Sanda had “shown no remorse” throughout her trial and that her release undermines public confidence in the justice system.

“We interpret this pardon as an attempt to appease one family at the expense of another’s unending pain,” the family said.

They further prayed for the repose of the late Bilyaminu’s soul and divine guidance for his children, while expressing faith that ultimate justice rests with God. (Zagazola, excluding headline)