The Supreme Court has rejected President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s pardon for Abuja-based housewife, Maryam Sanda, reinstating her death sentence for the murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello.
Sanda was convicted in 2020 by a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for stabbing her husband to death during a domestic dispute. The Court of Appeal later upheld that verdict. President Tinubu had subsequently commuted her death sentence to 12 years’ imprisonment on compassionate grounds, citing her conduct in custody and the welfare of her children.
However, in a split 4–1 judgment delivered on Friday, the Supreme Court set aside the presidential pardon and affirmed the original sentence of death by hanging. The apex court dismissed Sanda’s appeal in its entirety, ruling that it lacked merit.
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Moore Adumein held that the prosecution had proved the case beyond reasonable doubt and that the Court of Appeal was correct to uphold the trial court’s verdict.
He further ruled that it was improper for the Executive to exercise its power of pardon in a culpable homicide case while an appeal was pending, describing such action as inconsistent with the proper administration of justice.
With the Supreme Court’s ruling, the death sentence handed to Maryam Sanda by the FCT High Court now stands as the final legal position on the matter.
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