The Supreme Court confirmed Maryam Sanda’s death sentence for the murder of her husband, Bilyamin Mohammed Bello.

In a four-to-one split ruling issued on Friday, the Supreme Court ruled that the court of appeals was correct in upholding the trial judge’s verdict.

Moore Adumein, the judge who read the lead judgement, concluded that the prosecution established its case beyond a reasonable doubt in the trial court.

Adumein determined that the court of appeals did not mistake in confirming the conviction and death sentence.

The court criticised President Bola Tinubu’s mercy for Sanda, saying it is inappropriate to pardon someone while an appeal is ongoing.

The federal government has charged Sanda and three individuals with two counts of culpable murder.

On January 27, 2020, Yusuf Halilu, the trial judge, found her guilty and condemned her to death by hanging in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) high court.

She filed an appeal after being dissatisfied with the judgement.

In December 2020, the appeals court upheld the death penalty.

Sanda was one of 175 people who received presidential pardons in October after the national council of state approved them.

In response to popular outrage, the presidential pardon was overturned, and her death sentence was commuted to 12 years.

The federal government stated that Sanda’s death sentence was lowered “based on compassionate grounds, in the best interest of the children and good conduct, embraced new lifestyle, model prisoner, and remorsefulness”.