Husband murder: Absence of Maryam Sanda's lawyer stalls trial

The absence of Maryam Sanda’s lawyer in court today has stalled her ongoing murder trial before an FCT High Court in Jabi. Maryam’s lawyer, Joseph Daudu (SAN) sent a letter to the court requesting for an adjournment due to ill health on his part. Without objection from prosecution counsel, CSP J.C. Idachaba and other counsels in the suit, the trial judge, Justice Yusuf Halilu adjourned the matter to June 28 and 29 for continuation of hearing. Idachaba had earlier announced the presence of three witnesses. However, upon the notification for adjournment, he asked the court to award a cost of N20,000 against Maryam for two of the witnesses, which he said were brought in from Kaduna state. Justice Halilu however held that no order would be made as to cost in view of the reasons given for seeking the adjournment. Maryam was accused by the Police of causing the death of her husband, Bilyamin Bello, son of former Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bello Halliru Muhammad. She was docked alongside her mother, Maimuna Aliyu, her brother, Aliyu Sanda and one Sadiya, who were accused of assisting her to conceal the evidence by cleaning the blood of the deceased from the scene of the crime. ]]>