The Federal High Court in Abuja has denied Maryam Sanda, the woman who allegedly killed her husband, bail.
In his ruling on Thursday, Justice Yusuf Halilu held that court was not inclined to grant the accused bail as no cogent reason was brought forward by the defence counsel.
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.
On December 4, the FCT Police Command filed two counts of culpable homicide against her.
Although she pleaded not guilty, the accused was remanded in prison custody.
The development took a different turn on Thursday last week when the police amended the charges, joining the mother of the accused, her brother, and one of her relatives in the suit.
However, the trial could not continue as the prosecutor said efforts by the police to serve the three other defendants proved abortive.
Maryam’s lawyer had requested that his client be released on interim bail because she is a nursing mother, but the prosecution counsel argued that the application should not be taken since the charge had been amended.
Giving his ruling on the bail application on Thursday, Justice Halilu acknowledged the medical report presented by the defence counsel, Mr Joseph Daudu, to request for Maryam’s bail based on her health status.
He, however, said the defence counsel has not shown any exception as anticipated by law that the said ailment cannot be treated in a detention facility.
The judge also held that the fact that Maryam is a nursing mother was not a general principle for granting bail, hence her denial of it.
He, 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.
