Allege Husband Killer, Maryam Sanda, Granted Bail
An FCT High Court has granted bail to Maryam Sanda, who allegedly killed her husband, Bilyamin Bello. Mr. Bello was a son to the former chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, Haliru Bello. Ms Sanda was granted bail by the judge, Yusuf Halilu, based on medical reports which indicate she is pregnant and ill.
She has been facing trial on allegations of homicide for the alleged killing of her husband and had been denied bail on at least two occasions.
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Maryam Sanda allegedly stabbed her husband, Bilyamin Bello, a son of a former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Haliru Bello,
“on the chest and other parts of the body with a knife and other dangerous weapons which eventually led to his death.”
Prosecutors say she stabbed him at their residence at 4, Pakali Close, Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, on November 19, 2017, “with the knowledge that his death would be the probable and not only the likely consequence of your act.”
Maryam is accused in the first count of committing culpable homicide punishable by death under section 221 of the Penal Code Act.
Her family members’ offence was said to be punishable under section 167 of the Penal Code Act.
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Maryam was earlier arraigned on November 24 on two counts of culpable homicide and causing the deceased grievous hurt, previously preferred against only her.
But the prosecuting counsel, Mr. James Idachaba, told the court on December 7 that the charges had been amended to have the three others joined as co-defendants.
After they all pleaded not guilty to the amended two counts, on Thursday, their lawyer, Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN), argued their bail applications.
But the bail applications were opposed by the prosecution.
Ruling on the applications on Thursday, the judge, Justice Yusuf Halilu, held that he was “not favourably disposed to” granting bail to Maryam despite her status as a mother nursing an eight-month-old baby.
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The judge, however, held that the offences the three others were accused of were bailable and granted them bail.
She therefore ordered them to submit their passports and present two sureties who must be resident in the city centre of Abuja as sureties.
