Jude Martins Abuja
The Supreme Court has nullified the presidential pardon granted to Abuja-based housewife, Maryam Sanda, and reaffirmed her death sentence for the murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello.
Sanda was sentenced to death by hanging in 2020 by a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) after she was found guilty of killing her husband during a domestic dispute. The conviction and sentence were later upheld by the Court of Appeal, Abuja.
President Bola Tinubu had, on compassionate grounds, commuted Sanda’s death sentence to 12 years’ imprisonment.
However, in a judgment delivered on Friday, the Supreme Court, in a split decision of four to one, set aside the pardon and upheld the death sentence earlier affirmed by the appellate court.
The apex court dismissed Sanda’s appeal in its entirety, holding that it lacked merit and resolving all issues raised against her conviction.
In the lead judgment, Justice Moore Adumein ruled that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and that the Court of Appeal was correct in affirming the trial court’s findings.
Justice Adumein further held that it was improper for the Executive to exercise its constitutional power of pardon in a case of culpable homicide while an appeal was still pending before the courts.
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