Supreme Court Upholds Death Sentence for Maryam Sanda

The Supreme Court has reaffirmed the death sentence passed on Maryam Sanda for the killing of her husband, Bilyamin Bello, in a split 4–1 judgment. The apex court dismissed her appeal, holding that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt and that the Court of Appeal was right to uphold the trial court’s verdict.

In the lead judgment delivered by Justice Moore Adumein, the court ruled that all issues raised by Sanda lacked merit and affirmed the sentence of death by hanging earlier imposed by an Abuja High Court on January 27, 2020, for the 2017 stabbing incident at their Abuja residence.

The Supreme Court also faulted the exercise of executive powers by President Bola Tinubu to reduce her sentence to 12 years while an appeal was still pending, stressing that such intervention was improper in a culpable homicide case under active judicial consideration.

Despite having spent about six years and eight months at Suleja Prison, Sanda was included in a recent presidential pardon on compassionate grounds. The Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), said the clemency considered the best interests of her children, citing her good conduct, remorse, and positive influence while in custody.

#SupremeCourt #MaryamSanda #NigeriaJustice #BreakingNews

It is illegal for VIO to impound vehicles — Abuja High Court rules as it restrains the agency from seizing vehicles and imposing fines on motorists

The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has ruled that the Directorate of Road Services (VIO) lacks the legal authority to confiscate vehicles or impose fines on Nigerian motorists.

Delivering judgment on October 2, 2024, in case FHC/ABJ/CS/1695/2023, Justice Nkeonye Evelyn Maha stated that VIO officers “are not empowered by any law or statute to stop, impound, confiscate the vehicles of motorists and or impose fine on motorists.”

The judgment followed a lawsuit filed by human rights attorney Mr. Marshal of Falana and Falana Chambers, aiming to curtail the powers of the road traffic agency, which has long been a source of anxiety for motorists nationwide.

Justice Maha also issued a perpetual injunction restraining VIO, its agents, allies, or anyone acting on its behalf from violating Nigerians’ rights to freedom of movement, presumption of innocence, and property ownership without lawful justification.

The ruling does not affect the Federal Road Safety Corps, which continues to operate as Nigeria’s primary road traffic enforcement body. The decision brings significant relief to millions of motorists across the country.

Abuja High Court Asks All Parties To Stay Off River Park Estate 'Disputed' Properties.

The court gave the ruling amid the legal battle over ownership and development rights within the sprawling River Park Estate in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

An Abuja High Court has directed all warring parties in the River Park Estate dispute to “maintain the status quo” and stay off the contested properties.

The court gave the ruling amid the legal battle over ownership and development rights within the sprawling River Park Estate in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

learnt that the "infamous" letter written by the Head of the Inspector-General of Police Monitoring Unit, CP Akin Fakorede, to the FCT Director of Lands, amid the ministerial committee probe, was also mentioned in court.

In Suit No. CV/2902/2025 between Jonah Capital Nigeria Limited (Claimant) and Paulo Homes Nigeria Limited (Defendant), presided over by Hon. Justice C. O Agashieze, the court ordered both parties to “stay action and refrain from interference” with several disputed properties, including developments like Paulo Boulevard and Aazik Homes, all within the River Park Estate.

While fixing the substantive hearing for a later date, the judge adjourned the matter sine die, effectively freezing all activities within the estate.

SaharaReporters learnt that lawyers representing Paulo Homes, led by Barrister Oluwabunmi S. Adebiyi, filed a further affidavit on 18th August 2025, attaching the highly controversial letter authored by Commissioner of Police, Akin Fakorede, on 7th August 2025.

The letter was selectively addressed to the Director of Land Administration and copied to AGIS, Development Control.