Alleged Husband Ki*ler: Court announces date to deliver judgment

A Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Maitama on
Monday fixed January 27, 2020, to deliver judgment in the trial of
Maryam Sanda, the woman who allegedly killed her husband.

Mrs Sanda was charged with the murder of Bilyaminu Bello, a son
of former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman, Haliru
Bello.

The accused was charged alongside her mother, Maimuna Aliyu; her
brother, Aliyu Sanda; and their house-help, Sadiya Aminu.

Mr Bello died in November 2017.

The accused were arraigned by the Inspector-General of Police in
2017 on a two-count charge bordering on culpable homicide and
conspiracy.

However, the judge, Yusuf Halilu, discharged the second
defendant (Mrs Sanda’s mother), the third defendant (her brother)
and the fourth defendant (the housemaid).

The three were arraigned alongside Mrs Sanda for allegedly
tampering with evidence by cleaning the crime scene.

Mr Halilu ruled that the prosecution failed to show evidence
proving that the second, third and fourth defendants actually
perpetuated that act.

Thus, the judge struck out the case against them.

Court session
At the resumed hearing of the matter on Monday, the lawyer
representing the police, Fidelis Ogbobe, submitted that the
prosecution has proved the allegations levelled against the
defendant beyond a reasonable doubt. Mr Ogbobe said they have
established that Mrs Sanda caused the death of her husband by
stabbing him.

He urged the court to “convict the defendant and sentence her
for it.”

Responding, Mrs Sanda’s lawyer, Regina Okotie-Eboh, argued that
the prosecution failed to tender evidence to corroborate the
allegations. She said the prosecution did not call nurses or
doctors from the hospital where the deceased was taken to as
witnesses.

Mrs Okotie-Ebor added that they failed to tender the knife with
which the defendant allegedly used to perpetrate the act

She also said no autopsy was carried out to ascertain the actual
cause of Mr Bello’s death.

“The court only decides on a matter based on the evidence before
it and not suspicions,” Okotie-Eboh stated.

She urged the court to discharge and acquit her client.

After listening to the two lawyers’ argument, the judge fixed
January 27 to deliver judgment.

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