The Supreme Court has overturned the presidential pardon granted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Abuja-based housewife, Maryam Sanda, and affirmed the original death sentence imposed on her for the murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello.
The Supreme Court’s ruling intervenes in the recent action taken by the Presidency regarding judicial sentences. Dawn Herald reported that the President Tinubu had granted a presidential pardon to Sanda, commuting her death sentence to 12 years in prison, based on compassionate grounds, good conduct, and in the best interest of her children. Sanda has already served six years and eight months of the original sentence at Suleja prison.
The judgment, delivered on Friday in a four-to-one split decision, effectively reverses the commutation of her sentence and reinstates the penalty of death by hanging. The Supreme Court resolved all issues raised in the appeal filed by Sanda, dismissing it as being without merit.
Justice Moore Adumein, delivering the lead judgment, held that the prosecution had proved the case beyond reasonable doubt as required by law.
The Apex Court affirmed the decision of the Court of Appeal, Abuja, which had earlier upheld the sentence passed by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Sanda was sentenced to death by hanging in 2020 over the death of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, which occurred during a domestic dispute.
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