Court remands wife in Suleja Prison for killing ex-Minister’s son, Husband

Trial begins Dec 7

An Abuja High Court in Jabi on Friday remanded Mrs Maryam Sanda in Suleja Prison for allegedly stabbing her husband to death.

Justice Yusuf Halilu had remanded Maryham in prison, following her arraignment on two count homicide murder charges for stabbing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello Haliru to death.

The late Bilyaminu was the son of a former Minister of Defence and former National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mohammed Bello Haliru. The former minister is presently standing trial on alleged corruption charges before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

Maryam Sanda, a nursing mother, was said to have stabbed her late husband severally on the chest and neck region with broken bottle on November 19, 2017 in their Maitama , Abuja residence, which led to Bilyaminu’s death.

The two-count charge dated November 20, was filed same day by the Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory Command (FCT) Command.

The charge was brought pursuant to Section 109 (d) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

The prosecuting lawyer, Mr James Idachaba, had urged the court to read the charge to Maryham Sanda to enable her take the necessary plea.

But when the 2-count charge was read to Maryam, she pleaded not guilty to the offence.

Though Idachaba informed the court that the charge was a product of preliminary investigation, he said new facts have emerged which could warrant the filing of an amended charge against Maryham.

Having denied committing the offence, Idachaba requested for a date for the beginning of trial.

Responding, lawyer to Maryham Sanda Useni Musa, said the defence is not oppose to adjournment and urged the court to release her client on bail to enable her attend to her six -month old baby girl.

In his verdict on the matter, Justice Halilu Yusuf declined the oral application for bail on the grounds that it was not formally before the court.

The judge later adjourned the case till December 7 for trial

The two-count charge against Maryham Sanda reads as follows: “That you, Maryam Sanda, female, adult of No.4 Pakali Close, Wuse 2 Abuja, on 19/11/2017 at about 0350hours at No.4 Pakali Close, Wuse 2 Abuja within the Abuja Judicial Division, did commit the offence of culpable homicide punishable with death in that you caused the death of one Bilyaminu Bello Haliru, male adult of No. 40 Pakali Close, Wuse 2 Abuja by stabbing him on the chest with a broken bottle which eventually led to his death and you did so with the knowledge that your act is likely to cause his death. You thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 221 of the Penal Code Law.

“That you, Maryam Sanda, female, adult of No.4 Pakali Close, Wuse 2 Abuja, on 19/11/2017 at about 0350hours at No.4 Pakali Close, Wuse 2 Abuja within the Abuja Judicial Division, did commit the offence of causing grievous hurt in that you stabbed one Bilyaminu Bello Haliru, male adult of No. 40 Pakali Close, Wuse 2 Abuja with a broken bottle on the neck thereby endangering his life. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 240 (g) and punishable under Section 247 of the Penal Code Law.”

Andrew Orolua Abuja