The decision to grant Maryam Sanda a Presidential pardon is indeed heartbreaking and deeply troubling. It sends a dangerous message – that justice in Nigeria can be overturned by sympathy or influence, rather than truth and accountability.
Mr Abu Hanan Assalafy, a Youth, human rights advocate and Convener, Justice for All Network, a Non- Governmental Organisation has noted.
He said that the
family of the late Bilyaminu Bello has every right to feel betrayed.
After years of court proceedings – from the High Court to the Supreme Court – justice was finally served through a transparent legal process. Reversing that decision through a pardon not only disrespects the memory of the deceased but also undermines the integrity of our judicial system.
No family deserves to relive the trauma of losing a loved one in such a cruel manner, only to later watch the person responsible walk free under the guise of “mercy.”
Mercy should never come at the expense of justice, he said in a statement.
A society that excuses such a crime teaches others that there are no real consequences for violence and murder.
The Bello family’s statement is not driven by vengeance, but by a desire for fairness – a principle that should guide any nation that values human life and moral order.
Their pain is the nation’s pain, and their call for justice is a reminder that no one’s life should be considered expendable.
As the family rightly said, ultimate justice belongs to God – but as a people, we must ensure that our earthly justice is not mocked by politics or emotion.
Standing with the Bello family today is standing with justice, truth, and the sanctity of human life, the activist explained.
The pressure group is operating under three hashtags- #JusticeForBilyaminu, #SayNoToInjustice and #NigeriaDeservesBetter.
It wants Nigerians of conscience and good will to speak out on the raging controversy sparked off by the recent presidential pardon granted to Maryam Sanda after sentenced to death for killing her late husband, Bilyaminu Bello.
