Justice Yusuf Halilu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Jabi, yesterday, remanded Mrs. Maryam Sanda in Suleja Prison for allegedly stabbing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello Haliru, to death.
The late Bilyaminu was the son of former national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mohammed Bello Haliru, who is facing trial for alleged fraud.
It was gathered that the attack happened following an allegation of infidelity after she saw a text message on his phone. The deceased was stabbed 3 times in the back; and severally on his private parts, at their home in Maitama, Abuja.
Before this, Maryam had bit part of his ear off and was treated at a hospital before returning home. He was advised to leave the house but he refused.
After stabbing him, she drove him to the hospital where he died.
She was consequently arraigned on a two-count charge on November 20 and filed same day by the FCT Commissioner of Police, pursuant to Section 109(d) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
The prosecution counsel, James Idachaba, pleaded that the charge be read to the defendant to enable her take her plea. However, when the two-count charge, marked CV/15/17, was read to Maryam, she pleaded not guilty to the offence, contrary to Section 240 (g) and punishable under Section 247 of the Penal Code Law.
Though Idachaba informed the court that the instant charge was a product of preliminary investigation, he said new facts have emerged, which could warrant the filing of an amended charge against the defendant.
Having denied committing the offence, the prosecution counsel requested for a date for the commencement of trial. Counsel to the defendant, Useni Musa, did not oppose the adjournment, but rather attempted to persuade the court to release Maryam on bail to enable her attend to her six-month old baby girl.
But Justice Yusuf, who noted that the application was improper before him in the eyes of the law, rejected the oral plea. Consequently, definite hearing of the case was fixed for December 7, this year, while the defendant was remanded in prison.
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