CRIME Son of PDP ex-chairman’s killing: Kebbi bizman docked over importation of Police file murder charge against wife substandard sugar
A Kebbi State based businessman, Alhaji Modibbo Akilu, has been arraigned before a Federal High Court sitting in Birnin Kebbi, Kebbi State for allegedly importing 560 bags of substandard sugar from Brazil into the state through its border with Niger/ Benin republics.
The accused was arraigned on four-count charges before Justice Simon Amobeda. He was arrested by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) on October 28, 2017 after SON officials impounded the truckload of sugar at the Birnin-Kebbi Central Market.
He pleaded not guilty to the charges when read to him and his counsel thereafter urged the court to grant his client bail because the offenses are bailable.
He was thereafter granted bail in the sum of N500,000, with two sureties.
The case was adjourned to December 7, 2017 for trial.
The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has filed a charge bordering on culpable homicide against Maryam Sanda for allegedly killing her husband, Bilyamin Bello.
The command’s spokesman, DSP Anjuguri Manzah, said the case has been assigned to Court 32 of the FCT High Court in Jabi. He said a remand order for two weeks has been secured from the court in respect of the suspect pending the completion of investigation.
Manzah said that was necessary because the suspect has a six-months-old baby which made it difficult to remand her in prison custody with the child.
He added that the present charge is as a result of preliminary findings and that at the end of investigation, additional findings will determine whether the current charge will be amended or whether other persons would be charged along with the suspect. He said more individuals have been invited for questioning on the matter.
Daily Trust reports that Maryam, daughter of a former Executive Director of Aso Savings, Hajiya Maimuna Aliyu Sanda, had allegedly fought with the deceased late Saturday evening after seeing correspondences between him and another woman on his phone.
She allegedly stabbed the deceased severally in the chest and thigh leading to his death.
Maryam not forgiven – Family
Meanwhile, a reliable family member of the deceased who preferred anonymity told Daily Trust that reports circulating in the media that the family of Bilyamin has forgiven Maryam and decided that charges against her be dropped are unfounded.
The source said the father of Bilaymin, Alhaji Bello Halliru Muhammadu, a former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been outside the country on medical grounds when the incident occurred and he has not communicated any official statement on the matter.
The source also said that they are aware that the mother of Maryam, Hajiya Maimuna Aliyu, has contracted a senior lawyer to defend her daughter.
Also, a police source told our reporters that the return of the FCT Command’s Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the Criminal Investigation Department from Anambra where he went for elections duty has given the investigation a fresh momentum.
The source confirmed that there were pressures being mounted on the police on the case from different angles. He however, added that the fact that the matter had been transferred from the divisional office where it was first reported showed the importance attached to the case.
The command’s spokesman also assured that “investigation will be carried out professionally.”