Court sentences Sanda to death for killing husband

Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has found Mariam Sanda guilty of the murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, and has been sentenced to death by hanging.

Justice Yusuf Halilu made the declaration while delivering judgment on the protracted trial of Missus Sanda on Monday in the nation’s capital.

Sanda was facing trial over an allegation of stabbing her husband Bilyaminu to death. But the accused who was initially remanded in custody has repeatedly pleaded not guilty to the crime.

The judge dismissed Ms Sanda’s statement that her husband fell on a broken Shisha pot during a fight on the ill-fated day as a “smokescreen to deceive the court”.

He said available evidence proved that the accused stabbed her husband with a kitchen knife with intent to ” kill”.

As the judge pronounced Ms Sanda guilty, the accused attempted to run out of the court room while her relatives started shouting, causing an uproar in an attempt to draw public sympathy and soft landing.

A short break was called by the judge to restore calm before the sentence was delivered.

The court ruled that Mariam will be remanded in Suleja correctional service pending when she exhausts her right to appeal.

The deceased husband was son of former national chairman of opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Haliru Bello.

(TVC)