The father of the late Bilyaminu Bello, Alhaji Ahmed Bello Isa, has expressed delight with the decision of President Bola Tinubu to grant a pardon to Maryam Sanda over the killing of his son.
Isa, in a press conference on Tuesday, disclosed that he had totally forgiven Sanda even before the court sentenced her to jail over the death of her husband.
The father added that Sanda’s freedom would give her the opportunity to take care of her two children.
He added that he has accepted all that happened as the will of God, noting that whatever punitive measure inflicted against her daughter-in-law would not bring back his own son, but forgiveness can bring peace.
“I am happy that the father of the nation has released Maryam so that she can look after her children.
“We as Muslims accept whatever comes from Almighty Allah. I have forgiven her and bear no grudges against the Federal Government or her family. Vengeance cannot bring back my son, but forgiveness can bring peace,” he said.
Naijaonpoint recalls that Maryam Sanda was accused of killing her husband in November 2017 following a domestic dispute in Abuja.
She was subsequently convicted by the court and sentenced to death by hanging in January 2020.
However, in September 2025, she was granted a presidential pardon by the Tinubu government.
Reacting to the pardon, the father of the deceased disclosed on Tuesday that he had always supported peace and reconciliation before the court handed down the death sentence.
He said he had written multiple letters to authorities, including the then Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, and the Commissioner of Police in the Federal Capital Territory, seeking leniency for his daughter-in-law.
On the earlier position of the family, which was contained in a statement signed by Dr Bello Mohammed on behalf of other relatives, in which they described the presidential pardon for Sanda as “the worst possible injustice any family could be made to go through,” Isa said the statement did not represent his personal views.
He stressed that he has embraced forgiveness and believes that’s the right thing to do.
“That is their personal opinion. I am the father of the deceased, and I have chosen forgiveness. We may not all see things the same way, but I believe this is the right path, for peace, for the children, and for Allah’s mercy,” he said.
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