The Supreme Court has revoked the pardon previously granted by President Bola Tinubu to Abuja-based housewife Maryam Sanda, reinstating her original death sentence.
Sanda was initially sentenced to death by hanging in 2020 over the killing of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, during a domestic dispute. Recently, President Tinubu had reduced her sentence to 12 years’ imprisonment on compassionate grounds.
In a judgment delivered on Friday, the Supreme Court, by a four-to-one split decision, affirmed the death sentence previously upheld by the Court of Appeal, Abuja. The Court of Appeal had earlier confirmed the ruling of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) that sentenced Sanda to death.
The Apex Court dismissed all issues raised in Sanda’s appeal, declaring it without merit.
Justice Moore Adumein, delivering the lead judgment personally, stated that the prosecution had proven the case beyond reasonable doubt, adding that the Court of Appeal had correctly affirmed the trial court’s judgment.