SAN FRANCISCO, December 04, (THEWILL) – The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld the death sentence passed on Maryam Sanda for killing her husband, Biliyaminu Bello.
A three-member panel of the appellate court led by Justice Stephen Adah, on Friday, dismissed Ms Sanda’s appeal.
The court said the 20 grounds of appeal she filed before the court lacked merit and were therefore dismissed.
Maryam, a mother of two, had on February 19, 2020, filed 20-ground notice of appeal, praying for an order discharging, and acquitting her.
She contended that the judgment convicting her was tainted by bias and prejudices resulting in her being denied her right to fair hearing.
However, in a two-hour judgement read on Friday by Justice Steven Adah, the appellate court held that it was duty-bound to do justice according to law and not sentiments, stressing that the law does not leave room for irregularities and parties must conduct criminal trials according to the law.
It said the trial court was right in its verdict under Section 221 of the Penal Code, noting that the crime committed was punishable by death.
The appellate court held that it was not in doubt that Sanda killed her husband and it has no reason to set aside the judgment of the lower court.
It added that there was evidence that she murdered her husband during a fight after she saw a nude picture on his phone, and she had threatened him.
Displeased with the judgment of the appellate court, Sanda’s counsel, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Joe Gadzama said they would approach the Supreme Court to overturn the verdict.
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On the other hand, the police through their counsel, James Idachaba, commended the appeal court judgement, saying they were ready to meet the other party at the apex court.
Sanda’s protracted trial centred on a judicial drama that lasted almost three years as a result of delays, multiple adjournments, and failure of witnesses to appear in court, among others.
She was accused of the murder of her husband, Bilyaminu, Bello, the son of former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Haliru Bello.
She was arraigned in court by the police in November 2017 on two counts of culpable homicide.
The police informed the court that killing Bilyaminu was premeditated and sought a death penalty against Sanda.
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