Pardon for Maryam Sanda Sparks Controversy as Biological Father Backs Clemency

The controversial presidential pardon of Maryam Sanda, convicted for the 2017 murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, has taken an unexpected twist with the sudden public backing from a man claiming to be the late victim’s biological father. Alhaji Ahmed Bello Isa appeared at a press conference in Abuja alongside Maryam’s father, Alhaji Garba Sanda, endorsing the pardon and advocating for Maryam’s release to raise her children.

Alhaji Isa, a retired storekeeper from the old Sokoto State, explained his connection to Bilyaminu’s family dates back to the early 1980s when he married Bilyaminu’s mother. According to Isa, Bilyaminu was born during his mother’s brief visit to her parents’ home, after which she died. Isa visited the family only once after Bilyaminu’s birth but was not involved in his upbringing, which was largely overseen by maternal relatives including the late victim’s uncle, former Communications and Defence Minister Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed.

Despite being absent during Bilyaminu’s two marriages and the eight years of legal proceedings—including the Supreme Court trials—Alhaji Isa surprised many by publicly forgiving Maryam and appealing to President Bola Tinubu to grant her clemency. Isa stated that executing Maryam would not bring back his son and expressed a humanitarian desire to see her free to care for her two children. He framed his forgiveness in religious terms, choosing to leave judgment to Allah.

This unexpected endorsement contrasts sharply with the outspoken protests by other members of Bilyaminu’s maternal family, who perceive the pardon as a miscarriage of justice and an attempt by Maryam’s affluent family to evade accountability for a cold-blooded crime. The divide raises questions about who truly stood by Bilyaminu and exposes the complex interplay of family loyalties, societal status, and political influence in this tragic case.

Maryam Sanda, originally sentenced to death by hanging in 2020, was granted a presidential pardon alongside 174 others, including individuals convicted of drug trafficking, kidnapping, and corruption. The pardon has ignited national debate between calls for mercy in the interest of her children and demands for justice from the victim’s family and public advocates.

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At the press conference, Alhaji Isa appeared gaunt and poverty-stricken, a stark contrast to the powerful backing Maryam’s family enjoys, highlighting perceptions that his sudden appearance may be influenced by these social and economic disparities. His statements that he harbors no grudges and his advocacy for clemency underscore a deeply personal and humanitarian perspective, but one that remains deeply contested amidst the broader public outcry.

This development has continued to fuel the discourse on presidential pardons in Nigeria, weighing mercy against justice in high-profile criminal cases and raising ongoing questions about the influence of power and privilege in the nation’s judicial processes.