Court Remands Wife in Suleja Prison over Death of Ex-PDP Chairman’s Son

Alex Enumah in Abuja

An Abuja High Court on Friday ordered the remand in Suleija Prison of Maryam Sanda, wife to late Bilyaminu Bello Haliru, over the alleged murder of her husband.

Justice Yusuf Halilu, of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Jabi gave the order shortly after the accused was arraigned by the Federal Government on a two count charge bordering on murder.

The deceased was a son of former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mohammed Bello Haliru.

She pleaded not guilty to the charges read to her.

Maryam Sanda, a nursing mother, is being accused for murdering her husband by stabbing him severally on the chest and neck region with a broken bottle on November 19, 2017 in their Abuja residence.

Prosecution counsel, James Idachaba, who told the court that the instant charge against the defendant was a product of preliminary investigation, stated that there were new facts which could warrant the filing of an amended charge against the defendant.

Following her not guilty plea, Idachaba then prayed the court for a date for the commencement of trial.

While not opposing the request for adjournment, defendant’s counsel, Useni Musa however, made an attempt to persuade the court to release the defendant on bail, to enable her attend to her six-months old baby.

Responding, justice Halilu, declined the oral plea on the grounds that the application was improper in the eyes of the law.

He then adjourned till December 7, for trial to commence.

Count one of the charge reads, “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.”

Count two reads, “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.”