The Supreme Court has reinstated the death sentence for Maryam Sanda, overturning President Bola Tinubu’s earlier decision to reduce her punishment.

Sanda, who was convicted in January 2020 for fatally stabbing her husband, Bilyamin Bello, in their Abuja home in 2017, had originally been sentenced to death by hanging. She spent nearly seven years in Suleja Correctional Centre before the presidential clemency reduced her sentence to 12 years, citing her good behavior and the welfare of her children.

However, a five-member Supreme Court panel, in a 4-1 decision, dismissed her appeal and restored the original death penalty. Lead Justice Moore Adumein stated that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt and criticized the presidential pardon, saying it was inappropriate for the executive to intervene in a homicide case while an appeal was pending.