S’Court rejects Tinubu’s pardon, affirms Maryam Sanda’s death sentence

The Supreme Court on Friday overrode the pardon granted by President Bola Tinubu to an Abuja-based housewife, Maryam Sanda, and affirmed the death sentence handed out to her by lower courts.

Sanda was sentenced to death by hanging in 2020 for killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, during a domestic dispute.

Justice Moore Adumein in the lead judgement held that the prosecution proved the case beyond reasonable doubt as required, adding that the Court of Appeal was right to have affirmed the judgement of the trial court.

Justice Adumein held that it was wrong for the Executive to seek to exercise its power of pardon over a case of culpable homicide, in respect of which an appeal was pending.

The judge dismissed the appeal filed by Sanda for being without merit.

Tinubu reduces Maryam Sanda’s death sentence to 12 years

The appeal court had upheld the judgement of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court sentencing her to death by hanging.

Tinubu recently reduced Sanda’s sentence to 12 years imprisonment on compassionate grounds.

According to the presidency, the decision to reduce Sanda’s sentence was based on compassionate grounds, citing her good conduct in prison, her remorse, and consideration for the welfare of her two children.

However, the clemency stirred public outrage, particularly from the family of her late husband, who criticised the president’s decision.

The Star