Ahmed Bello, father of the late Bilyaminu Bello, says he personally begged President Tinubu to pardon Maryam Sanda.
He said forgiveness was guided by faith and concern for his grandchildren’s wellbeing.
Ahmed Bello, father of the late Bilyaminu Bello, has disclosed that he personally appealed to President Bola Tinubu to grant a presidential pardon to his daughter-in-law, Maryam Sanda, who was convicted in 2017 for the m3rder of his son.
Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday during a joint interview with Maryam’s father, Garba Sanda, Bello said his plea was made purely on humanitarian grounds, motivated by concern for his two grandchildren.
He explained that seeking Maryam’s execution would not restore his son’s life but would instead deprive the children of both parents.
“As a Muslim, I accepted the incident as the will of Allah. I have forgiven Maryam for what happened,” Bello said. “Even before the trial concluded, I pleaded with the police and the court to drop the case because I didn’t want my grandchildren to grow up without their mother.”
Responding to reports that some family members opposed the pardon, Bello maintained that forgiveness was a personal decision and insisted that his action was guided by faith and compassion.
In his remarks, Maryam’s father, Garba Sanda, expressed deep appreciation to Bello and his family for their rare show of mercy and understanding.
“Words cannot capture how grateful we are for this act of forgiveness and reconciliation. We continue to pray for healing and unity between our families and for the children to grow up in love and peace,” he said.
Both families reaffirmed their commitment to forgiveness and harmony, pledging to raise Bilyaminu’s children together in a peaceful environment.
President Bola Tinubu recently approved a presidential pardon for Maryam Sanda after she had spent over six years in prison.
