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

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

Justice Moore Adumein, delivering the lead judgment, stated that the prosecution had proved the case beyond reasonable doubt. He added that the Court of Appeal was correct to uphold the trial court’s judgment.

The apex court further held that it was improper for the Executive to exercise its power of pardon in a case of culpable homicide while an appeal was still pending. The court dismissed Sanda’s appeal as lacking merit.