Maryam Sanda – Sheikh Gumi backs Presidential Pardon for woman convicted of killing husband

Renowned controversial Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has described the presidential pardon granted to Maryam Sanda, who was convicted for killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, in 2020, as “the best way to go.”

Sanda, who had been sentenced to death, was among 175 inmates granted state pardon by President Bola Tinubu, including convicts of drug trafficking and kidnapping.

However, following public backlash, the Presidency announced on Wednesday that Tinubu had revoked the general pardon, while reducing Sanda’s punishment to 12 years imprisonment on “compassionate grounds in the interest of the children.”

Reacting to the development in a post on his verified Facebook page, Gumi said Sanda’s remorse after committing the act showed that her actions were influenced by Shaytan (the devil).

“They said she stabbed him, then broke down crying over his body. Do you understand? That is the work of Shaytan,” Gumi said.

The cleric faulted those criticising the President’s initial pardon, saying many did not understand the Islamic principles of forgiveness.

“When she was pardoned, people began to speak without knowledge. They do not understand the ruling of forgiveness in Islamic law,” he added.

‘Family forgave her, mercy dearer to Allah than vengeance’

Gumi noted that the family of the deceased had already extended forgiveness to Sanda, which, according to him, aligns with Islamic teachings on mercy.

“The family of the deceased said, ‘We have forgiven her.’ May Allah protect us all. Ameen,” he stated.

The cleric explained that in Islam, forgiveness by a victim’s family is not a sign of weakness but a spiritual act of compassion.

“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 added that executing Sanda would not have been the right decision, stressing that the presidential pardon was in line with Islamic justice principles.

“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,” the cleric concluded.