An FCT High Court has granted bail to Maryam Sanda, who allegedly killed her husband, Bilyamin Bello, who was a son to former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Haliru Bello.
Ms. Sanda was granted bail by the judge, Yusuf Halilu, based on medical reports which indicates that she is pregnant and ill.
She has been facing trial on allegations of culpable homicide for the alleged killing of her husband in November and had been denied bail on at least two occasions.
Sanda had been in police custody since the deadly stabbing of her husband who died shortly after the attack.
She is accused alongside her mother, Maimuna Aliyu; her brother Aliyu Sanda; and her house help, Sadiya Aminu who were said to have conspired with her.
Mrs. Sanda’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu, had asked the court to grant his client bail on the grounds that she was in need of health care which could not be provided at the detention facility.
He cited section 161 (2) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, ACJA, which deals with exceptional cases and prayed the court to consider the health condition of the first defendant and her eight-month-old baby who would require constant motherly care.
The charges against her as follows:
“That you Maryam Sanda: female adult of number 4 pakali close wuse 2 Abuja on or about 19/11/2017 at about 03: 50 hours, 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 number 4 Pakali Close wuse Zone 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 course his death, you thereby committed an offence punishable under section 221 of the penal code law.
“That you Maryam Sanda female, adult of number 4 Pakali Close Wuse 2 Abuja, on or about 19/11/2017 at about 03:50 hours, within the Abuja Judicial Division did commit the offence of causing grievous hurt. In that you stabbed one Bilyaminu Bello Haliru, male adult of number 4 pakali close wuse zone 2 Abuja, with a broken bottle on the neck, thereby endangering his life. You thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 240 and punishable under section 247 of the Penal code law.”