Sheikh Gumi: Maryam Sanda’s execution wasn’t justice, presidential pardon was the right decision, by Salisu Hassan
Sheikh Dr Ahmad Gumi has spoken on justice, mercy and the presidential pardon involving the case of Maryam Sanda.
This was captured in a lecture session by Sheikh Dr Ahmad Gumi – Exposition on Risāla of Ibn Abi Zayd Al-Qairawani (Chapter of Qisas) on 29th October 2025.
Sheikh Ahmad Gumi’s insightful sermon on justice and mercy during his weekly class (exegesis) session on the classical Islamic text Risāla by Imam Abdullahi Ibn Abi Zayd Al-Qairawani, specifically the chapter on Qisas – the Islamic law concerning retribution and forgiveness, where he offered an emotional yet deeply intellectual commentary that reignited national debate.
Referring to the tragic and controversial case of Maryam Sanda, who was convicted of killing her husband, the scholar said:
“They said she stabbed him, then broke down crying over his body. Do you understand? That is the work of Shaytan. 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.”
READ ALSO: Tinubu frees Maryam Sanda, convicted of killing her husband in 2020
Sheikh Gumi explained that the act of forgiveness (afw) granted by the victim’s family was not only lawful but spiritually superior.
“In Islam,” he said, “when the family of the victim forgives, it is not a weakness, it is mercy, and mercy is more beloved to Allah than vengeance.”
He continued, “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 Full Story: Love, Anger, and Tragedy
The heartbreaking saga began on November 19, 2017, when Maryam Sanda, daughter of Maimuna Aliyu (a former executive director at Aso Savings), was accused of killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, the son of Alhaji Bello Haliru Mohammed, a former national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
The incident occurred in their home in Maitama, Abuja. According to reports, the couple had an intense argument after Maryam allegedly found romantic messages on her husband’s phone.
In a fit of rage, she stabbed him in the chest. He later died from his wounds at the hospital.
Maryam was subsequently arrested alongside her mother and two others. The story dominated Nigerian media for years – a tale of love, jealousy, and tragedy that divided public opinion across gender and moral lines.
Trial and Conviction
After a lengthy trial before Justice Yusuf Halilu at the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Maryam Sanda was found guilty of intentional homicide on January 27, 2020, and sentenced to death by hanging under Section 221 of the Nigerian Penal Code.
She appealed the judgment, but both the Court of Appeal and later the Supreme Court upheld the death sentence, affirming that the evidence proved deliberate intent.
To many Nigerians, justice had been served.
But to others – particularly Islamic scholars like Sheikh Gumi – the conversation was far from over.
The Presidential Pardon Controversy
On October 1, 2023, during Nigeria’s 63rd Independence Anniversary, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved clemency for over 4,000 inmates across the country.
Soon after, rumours spread that Maryam Sanda was among those pardoned. Social media exploded with mixed reactions – some praised the move as merciful, others condemned it as an injustice.
However, when the official list of pardoned inmates was released by the Federal Ministry of Justice, Maryam’s name was not included.
Sources later revealed that her name was indeed recommended but omitted in the final approval ceremony, possibly due to legal or procedural caution given the case’s sensitivity.
Still, the debate reignited – should mercy have a place in the case of spousal murder?
Sheikh Gumi’s Explanation: Forgiveness and the Law of Allah
In his sermon, Sheikh Gumi emphasised that Islam’s justice system recognises three rights in a murder case:
1. The right of Allah,
2. The right of the victim, and
3. The right of the victim’s family.
If the family chooses to forgive, he explained, Allah encourages mercy over retribution.
“Now she will pay the blood money gradually,” he said. “They will handle it calmly, but he said, ‘No, wait.’ Let’s pause. Even among women today, when they hear about forgiveness, they ask, ‘How can someone forgive such a crime?’ But calm down – sometimes a woman kills unintentionally. Yes, she did it, but it was accidental, not deliberate.”
He reminded listeners that human emotions, especially jealousy (ghirah), can lead to tragic consequences.
“If you see a woman burn someone or harm a man, there is usually a deeper issue – between her and Allah. Most of the time, what causes a woman to kill her husband? Jealousy between spouses.”
Lessons for Husbands, Wives, and Society
Sheikh Gumi turned the tragedy into a marital lesson. He cautioned men to act wisely in their relationships:
“If you know your wife cannot handle jealousy, for Allah’s sake, end that marriage peacefully. Do not go and take another wife and cause chaos in the home.”
He cited examples from early Islamic history – mentioning the companions Sa’d ibn ‘Ubadah, – known for their intense sense of marital honour and jealousy.
“Some women,” he explained, “are born with strong masculine jealousy – not visible physically, but deep in their nature. Others are calm and patient. And some men, on the other hand, are strange – they act without jealousy or dignity at all. May Allah guide us.”
He added:
“Men should not provoke emotional storms in women that push them to sin or madness. This world is full of tests – everyone has their share of trials.”
Sheikh Gumi then gave a practical Islamic solution for women who cannot handle polygamy:
READ ALSO: Clemency: Onoh urges Tinubu to reverse pardon for Maryam Sanda, drug convicts
“If a woman knows she cannot tolerate a co-wife, she should say it before marriage. She can make it a condition: ‘If you ever take another wife, that will be an automatic divorce.’ And that will settle the matter peacefully.”
A Broader Reflection: When Mercy Becomes the Highest Justice
Sheikh Gumi’s position is clear – forgiveness does not negate justice; it elevates it.
“Islam allows qisas (retribution) but also gives a greater reward to those who forgive. Mercy heals what punishment cannot. It restores humanity where anger once destroyed it.
Whether or not Maryam Sanda ultimately benefited from the presidential pardon, the discussion she inspired remains one of Nigeria’s most complex intersections between law, religion, and emotion.
Conclusion: Justice, Mercy, and the Human Heart
The Maryam Sanda case will forever stand as a moral parable – about love, jealousy, faith, and forgiveness. While the court delivered human justice, Sheikh Gumi reminded the nation of divine mercy.
“The pardon given to Maryam Sanda was not injustice – it was mercy guided by wisdom. In Islam, forgiveness builds communities, while revenge often destroys them.”
In the end, his message was not about excusing sin but about reminding society that the path of mercy – though difficult – is the one closest to God.
Written by Salisu Hassan,
Head Media & Publicity Department.
Source: Lecture Session by Sheikh Dr Ahmad Gumi – Exposition on Risāla of Ibn Abi Zayd Al-Qairawani (Chapter of Qisas)
Date: 29th October 2025
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