An FCT High Court in Maitama, Abuja has convicted and sentenced Maryam Sanda to death by hanging for killing her husband, Bilyaminu Bello.
The court on Monday found Maryam guilty of killing her husband, Bilyaminu, a nephew of former chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Haliru Bello, on November 18, 2017, and thus convicted her of the charges.
Justice Yusuf Haliru dismissed Maryam’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”.
Police said the killing was premeditated and accused Maimuna Aliyu, Maryam’s mother; Aliyu, her brother; and Sadiya Aminu, her housemaid; of tampering with evidence by cleaning the blood and other proofs from the crime scene, but charges were later dropped.
Maryam, the mother of two, her mother and her other relatives broke down in tears immediately the judge pronounced her guilt.
Her mother who was occupying a back seat sped out of the court as she wept.
The judge however stood down the matter for five minutes following the drama that ensued after the conviction was passed.
The teary Maryam fled the dock immediately the judge convicted her.
However, court officials and prisons officials dragged her back into the dock.
The judge was forced to rise after several women starting wailing in the court room.
One of them who made attempt to approach Maryam was ordered to be taken away by the judge.
Justice Haliru rose for five minutes to return for sentencing.
As at the time of filing this report, Maryam is still wailing and shouting “Inna lilahi Inna roji hun”, while efforts are being made by her family and lawyer to console her.
She was heard saying, “I was fasting and praying … Ya Allah, why?” as court officials announced that the judge was about to return for sentencing.
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