The Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence handed to Maryam Sanda for the 2017 killing of her husband, Bilyamin Bello.

In a 4–1 split decision, a five-member panel dismissed her appeal and affirmed earlier rulings by both the trial court and the Court of Appeal.

Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Moore Adumein ruled that the prosecution proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

The apex court also held that President Bola Tinubu acted improperly by attempting to grant Sanda a pardon while her appeal was still pending.

Read Also: Tinubu Grants Clemency to Selected Convicts, Reviews Pardon List

Sanda was sentenced to death by hanging in January 2020. Despite spending over six years at Suleja Prison, she was included in a recent presidential pardon that sought to reduce her sentence to 12 years, an action the Attorney General, Lateef Fagbemi, said was based on compassionate grounds and her reported good conduct.

Source: Channels