Abuja — The Supreme Court of Nigeria has overturned the presidential pardon earlier granted to Maryam Sanda and restored the death sentence originally issued against her for the murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello. The ruling, delivered on Friday, marks a dramatic reversal of the clemency approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2025.
Maryam Sanda was convicted in January 2020 by an FCT High Court after being found guilty of stabbing her husband to death during a domestic dispute at their Abuja residence. The court sentenced her to death by hanging, a judgment that was later upheld by the Court of Appeal. Her conviction became one of the most widely followed domestic violence cases in recent Nigerian history.
In 2025, her name appeared on a presidential pardon list, reportedly reducing her sentence and sparking heated reactions across the country. Many Nigerians expressed shock, arguing that the crime and the painstaking judicial process leading to her conviction did not justify such clemency.
The Supreme Court, in today’s ruling, declared the pardon invalid and unconstitutional in Sanda’s case. The justices held that a presidential prerogative of mercy cannot override a valid conviction that has passed through all appellate stages. They stressed that executive actions must not interfere with judicial outcomes, especially in cases involving capital punishment and extensive legal scrutiny.
The decision has generated nationwide debate. Legal experts say the ruling reinforces the independence of the judiciary and sets a clear boundary for the exercise of presidential pardons. Human rights advocates have welcomed the verdict, saying it sends a strong message about accountability in cases of domestic violence. Others, particularly supporters of Sanda, describe the development as harsh and argue that Nigeria should reconsider capital punishment altogether.
With the Supreme Court’s decision being final, the Nigerian Correctional Service is expected to begin the required administrative processes to implement the reinstated sentence, although several procedural steps must still follow before any execution can take place.
ConfirmNews will continue monitoring official reactions from the Presidency, the Ministry of Justice, and the Supreme Court as more details emerge.