By Sabiu Mohd
Prominent Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has described the presidential pardon granted to Maryam Sanda as a just and compassionate decision. Sanda was convicted in 2020 and sentenced to death for killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello.
Earlier reports indicated that President Bola Tinubu had approved a pardon for Sanda and 174 other inmates, including individuals convicted of drug trafficking, kidnapping, and fraud. However, following widespread public criticism, the presidency later withdrew the clemency.
A statement issued on Wednesday by the president’s media aide, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed that the pardon had been revoked. The government, however, reduced Sanda’s sentence to 12 years in prison “on compassionate grounds in the interest of the children.”
Reacting to the controversy, Gumi, in a post on his Facebook page, said Sanda’s repentance showed that her crime was influenced by evil forces. According to him, “They said she stabbed him, then broke down crying over his body. Do you understand? That is the work of Shaytan.”
He added, “So, when she was pardoned, people began to speak without knowledge, they do not understand the ruling of forgiveness in Islamic law.”
“The family of the deceased said, ‘We have forgiven her.’ May Allah protect us all. Ameen.”
The cleric emphasized that the forgiveness extended by the victim’s family was both lawful and spiritually commendable. He explained that Islam places greater value on mercy than revenge.
“In Islam, when the family of the victim forgives, it is not a weakness, it is mercy, and mercy is more beloved to Allah than vengeance,” Gumi said.
He further stated that executing Sanda would not have been the right path. “Maryam Sanda’s execution would not have been the right solution. The presidential pardon she received was the correct one. In Islam, justice is not driven by anger, but by balance and compassion,” he added.
