By Omoniyi David
Nigeria’s judiciary recorded a defining year in 2025, marked by major Supreme Court rulings and constitutional clarifications that reshaped legal and governance discourse.
One of the most controversial decisions was the Supreme Court’s reversal of the presidential pardon granted to murder convict Maryam Sanda.
Sanda was among inmates whose sentences were reduced by President Bola Tinubu under the prerogative of mercy, with her death sentence commuted to 12 years’ imprisonment.
The move sparked public outrage, leading to revisions of the pardon list.
In a split decision of four to one, the apex court set aside the pardon and reinstated the death sentence, affirming earlier judgments of the FCT High Court and the Court of Appeal.
The ruling ignited widespread debate over the limits of executive powers in criminal justice.
In another landmark judgment on December 15, the Supreme Court clarified the scope of presidential authority to declare a state of emergency.
The case, filed by PDP governors against the Federal Government over the Rivers State political crisis, provided constitutional guidance on the lawful conditions and procedures for emergency declarations.
Together, the rulings underscored the judiciary’s central role in constitutional interpretation and the balance of powers in Nigeria’s democracy.
