Supreme Court faults Tinubu’s pardon, affirms Maryam Sanda’s death sentence

By Ebere Agozie

The Supreme Court affirmed the death sentence handed out to her by lower courts to Abuja-based house wife, Maryam Sanda for allegedly killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, during a domestic dispute in 2020.

The apex court overrode the pardon granted by President Bola Tinubu to Sanda while affirming the death sentence of death by hanging passed on her.

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

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 Apex Court resolved all the issues raised in the appeal she filed against her and dismissed the appeal for being without merit.

The Supreme Court, in a split decision of four-to-one, affirmed the death sentence handed Sanda by the Court of Appeal.

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

Recall that President Tinubu had on October 11, 2025 pardoned Sanda who was on death row at Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre, Abuja.

The Presidency had in a statement listed Sanda among those recommended for pardon by the Presidential Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy, chaired by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Olasunkanmi Fagbemi (SAN).

“The plea was also anchored on her good conduct in jail, her remorse, and her embracement of a new lifestyle, demonstrating her commitment to being a model prisoner,” the presidency said.

However, the pardon which would have resulted in freedom for Sanda after less than seven years in prison was later reversed to 12 years imprisonment following public criticisms.

In the official gazette released by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, her sentence was reduced from death to 12 years imprisonment.

The Presidency said Sanda would serve 12 years “based on compassionate grounds, in the best interest of the children and good conduct, embraced new lifestyle, model prisoner and remorsefulness”.

(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)