Husband killing: Counsel”s ill health stalls Maryam Sanda trial again

The trial of Maryam Sanda, who was alleged to have killed her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, was on Thursday stalled due to the ill-health of the prosecution counsel. At the resumed hearing today, the prosecutor, CSP James Idachaba pleaded with the court to grant an adjournment on the ground that he was not feeling well enough […]

The trial of Maryam Sanda, who was alleged to have killed her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, was on Thursday stalled due to the ill-health of the prosecution counsel.

At the resumed hearing today, the prosecutor, CSP James Idachaba pleaded with the court to grant an adjournment on the ground that he was not feeling well enough to proceed with the case.

"My lord, I am completely down, I need urgent medical attention; I managed to come because of the seriousness of this case.

"Our witness for cross-examination is even in the court to show you how concern we are about this matter, I plead with the court to grant an adjournment," he said.

The application for adjournment was unopposed by all the defence counsels and was subsequently granted by the trial judge, Justice Yusuf Halilu. In view of the approaching judges’ annual vacation, the matter was adjourned to October 4 based on the consensus agreement of the counsels.

Earlier, our reporter gathered that Maryam Sanda’s lead counsel, Joseph Daudu (SAN) had sent in words for the matter to be stood down for a while as he was held up with other commitments. Upon Daudu’s arrival around 11am, Idachaba made his application for 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.