The Supreme Court on Friday overturned President Bola Tinubu’s Pardon and sentenced Maryam Sanda To death by hanging.
Sanda,a housewife was sentenced to death by hanging in 2020 for killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello during a domestic quarrel.
President Tinubu had converted Sandra’s death sentence to 12 years in prison but in a judgment on Friday, the Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the Court of Appeal by handing Sanda the death penalty.
In his lead judgement, Justice Moore Adumein said the prosecution proved the case without reasonable doubt and that the Appeal Court ‘s decision on the death penalty was in order.
The judge held that it was wrong for the executive to exercise the power of pardon in a case of culpable homicide ,in respect of which an appeal was pending..
President Tinubu exercised the power of the prerogative of mercy on October 9,2025.
Sanda’s name which was included for pardon in an initial list of 175 beneficiaries approved by the council of states received public outrage
