Supreme Court Restores Death Sentence for Maryam Sanda, Overturns Presidential Pardon
Nigeria’s Supreme Court has nullified President Bola Tinubu’s pardon for Maryam Sanda, reinstating her 2020 death sentence for murdering her husband, Bilyaminu Bello.
In a 4-1 ruling on December 12, 2025, the court dismissed Sanda’s final appeal, citing clear evidence of her guilt. Justice Moore Adumein described the presidential pardon as an improper use of executive power, given her active appeal in a homicide case.
