From Victor Osula Abuja
The Supreme Court on Friday affirmed the death sentence handed to Abuja housewife Maryam Sanda, despite an earlier presidential pardon by President Bola Tinubu, which had commuted her sentence to 12 years imprisonment on compassionate grounds.
Sanda was convicted in 2020 and sentenced to death by hanging for killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, during a domestic dispute.
In a 4–1 split decision, the Supreme Court upheld the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja, which had previously affirmed the ruling of the Federal Capital Territory High Court.
Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Moore Adumein held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, and the appellate court acted correctly in sustaining the conviction.
He added that it was “improper” for the Executive to grant a pardon in a culpable homicide case while an appeal was still pending before the courts.
“The appeal filed by the convict is without merit and is hereby dismissed,” Adumein ruled.
The judgment underscores the judiciary’s resolve to uphold the rule of law in homicide cases and clarifies the constitutional limits of presidential clemency when judicial proceedings remain active.
