The Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence handed to Maryam Sanda, the daughter-in-law of a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for the killing of her husband, Bilyamin Bello.
Maryam Sanda was first found guilty on January 27, 2020, by an Abuja High Court, which ruled that she was responsible for Bello’s death at their home in Maitama in 2017.
The court sentenced her to death by hanging.
Before the latest ruling, she had spent nearly seven years at the Suleja Correctional Centre.
President Bola Tinubu later stepped in and approved clemency, cutting her punishment to a 12-year prison term.
The Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), defended the president’s decision at the time.
He said her inclusion in the pardon list was based on compassion, noting her behaviour in custody, signs of remorse, and the need to consider the welfare of her children.
On Friday, December 12, a five-member panel of the Supreme Court, in a four-to-one decision, set aside the presidential pardon and restored the original death sentence.
The court rejected her appeal completely, saying she failed to prove that the earlier judgments were flawed.
Justice Moore Adumein, who delivered the ruling, said the prosecution had established its case beyond reasonable doubt and that the Court of Appeal was right to uphold her conviction.
The justices also criticised the president’s intervention, noting that it was improper for the Executive to grant clemency in a murder case that was still going through the court process.
As a result, the initial death sentence issued by the trial court remains in effect.
KanyiDaily recalls that ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar had accused President Bola Tinubu of misusing the power of presidential pardon, saying it is reckless and morally wrong.
