The trial of Maryam Sanda, the woman who allegedly killed her husband in Abuja has commenced at the Federal High Court Jabi.
She is being arraigned alongside her mother Maimuna Sanda, her brother Aliyu Sanda and one Sadiya.
They are standing trial on two counts of culpable homicide and tampering with the scene of crime, to which they all entered a ‘not guilty plea’.
Counsel to the defendants, Mr Joseph Daudu, subsequently requested for their bail.
He also attached a medical report to the application and asked the court to consider the fact that Sanda is a nursing mother while he said the offence for which others were standing trial was bailable.
The prosecutor, Jacob Idachaba, however, relied on his counter-affidavit to ask the court to deny the bail application.
He said although he sympathised with the baby, it was not sufficient reason to ask for the Maryam’s bail, adding that the other three defendants ought to be in prison custody pending the determination of their trial.
In his ruling, Justice Yusuf Halilu refused to grant bail to the defendant, saying the court was not inclined to do so and that no cogent reason was presented by the defence to warrant her bail.
He also held that the fact that Sanda is a nursing mother was not a general principle for granting her bail.
Justice Halilu, however, granted bail to the other defendants on the condition that they must provide two sureties each, who must reside within the city centre of Abuja.
The defendants are also expected to submit their travel documents to the court while the sureties must deposit proof of their landed properties in Abuja.
The case was subsequently adjourned till February 5, 6, and 7, 2018.
Maryam who is the daughter of Maimuna Aliyu, a former Aso Saving Bank executive, was arraigned by the police for allegedly killing Bilyamin, son of a former PDP Chairman, Mohammed Bello.
She was said to have stabbed her husband several times at his Maitama residence in Abuja a few weeks ago, based on allegations of infidelity.
Bilyamin was reportedly rushed to the hospital where he eventually died while Maryam was consequently charged to court.
The FCT Police Command had filed two counts of culpable homicide against her. Although she pleaded not guilty, she was remanded in prison custody.
