BREAKING: Supreme Court cancels Tinubu’s pardon, upholds death sentence for Maryam Sanda

The Supreme Court on Friday overturned a pardon granted by President Bola Tinubu to an Abuja-based housewife, Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced to death by hanging in 2020 for the murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, during a domestic dispute.

President Tinubu had earlier reduced Sanda’s sentence to 12 years’ imprisonment on compassionate grounds. However, in a split decision of four to one, the Supreme Court upheld the death sentence originally handed down by the Court of Appeal, Abuja, which had affirmed the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT)’s ruling.

The apex court resolved all issues raised in Sanda’s appeal, dismissing it as lacking merit.

Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Moore Adumein stated that the prosecution had proven the case beyond a reasonable doubt, noting that the Court of Appeal was correct to uphold the trial court’s verdict.

Justice Adumein further ruled that it was improper for the executive to attempt to exercise its power of pardon in a case of culpable homicide while an appeal was still pending.