Father of Late Bilyaminu Bello Says He Pleaded with President Tinubu to Pardon Maryam Sanda

The biological father of the late Bilyaminu Bello, Alhaji Ahmed Bello Isa, has expressed his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to grant a presidential pardon to his daughter-in-law, Maryam Sanda, who was convicted of the murder of her husband in 2017.

Speaking during a joint interview in Abuja with Maryam’s father, Alhaji Garba Sanda, Alhaji Bello revealed that he had personally appealed to President Tinubu for clemency, explaining that his plea was driven by humanitarian reasons and compassion for his two grandchildren.

According to him, executing Maryam would not have brought his son back but would have deepened the family’s sorrow by leaving the children without parental care.

“As a devout Muslim, I accepted the tragic event as the will of Allah. I have forgiven Maryam for what happened,” he said. “Before the end of the trial, I appealed to both the police and the court to drop the case because I did not want my grandchildren to lose their mother after losing their father. If she had been executed, who would raise them with love?”

Addressing reports that some family members opposed the presidential pardon, Alhaji Bello maintained that everyone is entitled to their opinion but stressed that, as the biological father, he had fully forgiven Maryam.

On his part, Alhaji Garba Sanda, Maryam’s father, expressed deep gratitude to Alhaji Bello and his family for what he described as an extraordinary act of forgiveness and compassion.

“Words cannot express how grateful we are for this gesture of mercy and reconciliation. We pray that healing continues for both families and that the children grow up surrounded by love and peace,” he said.

Both families reaffirmed their commitment to forgiveness, compassion, and unity, pledging to work together to raise the late Bilyaminu’s children in an atmosphere of peace and love.