A FCT High Court in Jabi has
refused the oral application for bail made on behalf of Maryam Sanda and
ordered her returned to prisons pending her re-arraignment next Thursday.
The FCT Police Command in a
two-count charge accused Maryam, the daughter of a former Executive Director of
Aso Savings and Loans, Hajiya Maimuna Aliyu Sanda, of killing her husband,
Bilyamin Bello, the son of Alhaji Bello Halliru Muhammad, a former chairman of
the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
They alleged that Maryam had caused
the death of Bello “by stabbing him on the chest with a broken bottle which
eventually led to his death and you did with the knowledge that your act is
likely to cause his death.”
Upon her arraignment on November
24, the court had ordered that she be remanded in prisons after she pleaded not
guilty to the charge levied against her.
However, at the resumed hearing
today, police Prosecutor, CSP James Idachaba informed the court an amended
charge has been filed before the court where Maryam's mother, Maimuna Aliyu has
been added as defendant together with two others.
He however said all efforts to
serve the charge on Maimuna and the others have proved abortive.
He asked the court to adjourned
the matter to Thursday, December 14 to enable the Police bring all the
defendants to court so they can take their pleas together.
After this, Maryam's new lawyer,
Chief Joseph Daudu (SAN), a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association
(NBA), asked the court to listen to the
bail application filed on Maryam's behalf.
However, Idachaba urged the court
to also adjourn the bail application to December 14 after new pleas must have
been taken.
The trial judge, Justice Yusuf
Halilu ruled in favour of the Prosecutor and said the bail would be taken after
the re-arraignment.
Again, Daudu pleaded with the
judge, this time orally, to release Maryam on bail pending the Thursday.
He said the prisons conditions is
unwholesome for Maryam's six-months old baby.
"It is unfortunate that a
life has been lost already, but we should not take more lives," the senior
lawyer pleaded.
However, after another objection
by the police Prosecutor, Justice Halilu held that he is not disposed to grant
the oral bail application since issues have been joined on the formal
application for bail.
"The defendant in the main
time shall be returned to the prisons pending Thursday, December 14," the
judge held.
Earlier, the judge had ordered
that Maryam's daughter in the custody of a relative be taken out of court after
the baby's persistent crying.
The baby continued crying outside
the court room throughout the court proceedings.
It was observed that the court
room was filled to capacity with as many more people standing both inside and
outside the court room.
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