In a landmark judgment, the Supreme Court of Nigeria has overturned the presidential pardon earlier granted to Maryam Sanda and affirmed her death sentence for the murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello. The ruling restores the original verdict delivered by the Federal Capital Territory High Court and upheld by the Court of Appeal.
The apex court declared that the controversial pardon issued as part of a broader list of clemencies was invalid in Sanda’s case, insisting that executive powers of mercy cannot be used to nullify a conviction that has passed through all judicial stages and been affirmed by the Supreme Court.
According to the judgment, once the Supreme Court has issued a final decision on a criminal matter especially one involving capital punishment—no executive order can substitute or overturn the binding verdict of the court.
Maryam Sanda was convicted in 2020 for stabbing her husband to d€ath during a domestic altercation in Abuja. The case drew national attention, sparking debates on gender-based violence, marital conflict, and justice system integrity.
The now-overturned pardon had triggered widespread controversy, with many Nigerians questioning its legitimacy and potential implications for judicial independence. Today’s ruling, legal analysts say, reinforces the constitutional limits of executive power while reaffirming the finality of Supreme Court decisions.
With this judgment, the court’s original conviction and sentence remain fully in effect, bringing the long-running legal battle to a decisive close.
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