Supreme Court has confirmed the death sentence of Maryam Sanda for the murder of her husband, Bilyamin Mohammed Bello.
Gatekeepers News reports that in a 4–1 split decision delivered on Friday, the apex court upheld the ruling of the Court of Appeal, agreeing that the trial court’s judgment was correct.
Justice Moore Adumein, who delivered the lead judgment, stated that the prosecution had proved the case beyond a reasonable doubt and that the Court of Appeal did not err in affirming Sanda’s conviction and death sentence.
He criticised the presidential clemency previously granted to Sanda by President Bola Tinubu, noting that it was improper to issue a pardon while an appeal was still pending.
Recall that Sanda and three others were arraigned by the federal government on a two-count charge of culpable homicide.
She was convicted and sentenced to death by hanging on January 27, 2020, by Justice Yusuf Halilu of the Federal Capital Territory High Court.
Unhappy with the judgment, Sanda appealed, and in December 2020, the appellate court upheld her death sentence.
In October 2025, she was among 175 individuals granted a presidential pardon after approval by National Council of State.
Following public backlash, the pardon was revoked, and her sentence was temporarily reduced to 12 years.
