- The capital punishment handed down by the trial court remains in force
- The court also held that the presidential intervention was inappropriate
- the prosecution had established her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt
The Supreme Court on Friday reinstated the death sentence against Maryam Sanda, the daughter-in-law of a former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, over the murder of her husband, Bilyamin Bello.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Sanda had initially been convicted in January 2020 by an Abuja High Court for fatally stabbing Bello at their Maitama residence in 2017 and sentenced to death by hanging.
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Her sentence was later commuted to 12 years’ imprisonment following a presidential clemency granted by President Bola Tinubu, citing compassionate grounds for the benefit of her children and her good conduct in custody.
However, in a split 4–1 ruling, a five-member panel of the apex court on Friday dismissed her appeal, affirming the findings of the lower courts. Justice Moore Adumein, delivering the lead judgment, stated that the prosecution had established her guilt beyond a reasonable doubt and that the Court of Appeal rightly upheld the conviction.
The court also held that the presidential intervention was inappropriate while the case was still under appeal, thus reinstating the original death sentence.
With this ruling, the Supreme Court’s decision ensures that the capital punishment handed down by the trial court remains in force.
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