Absence of Co-defendants Stall Fresh Arraignment of Maryam Sanda

The absence of co-defendants in the trial of Maryam Sanda, who allegedly stabbed her husband, Bilyaminu Bello, son of the former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Haliru Bello, to death stalled hearing in the case yesterday.

Sanda was alleged to have killed her husband by stabbing him with a knife.

The names of the three codefendants to be arraigned alongside Sanda before Justice Yusuf Halilu of FCT High Court, Jabi, were, however, not mentioned.

At the last court sitting on November 24, the prosecuting counsel, Mr. James Idachaba, prayed the court to adjourn the matter to enable the filling of an amendment based on new facts.

The filling of the amendment charge consequently brought against the other defendants, the trial judge, therefore, said it was necessary to wait for the prosecution to bring the other defendants before further action could be taken on the matter.

Halilu said: “I have listened to the defendant counsel, I will not grant her bail, all arguments about her bail application shall be taken together on December 14 when all other co-defendants will be brought to court.

“We must be very tidy, I am a judge with principle, the prosecution has enough time to

encourage the sureties to look for other defendants; this is an amendment charge’ you must make extra effort to get other defendants arraigned before me.

“In the meantime, the defendant should be taken back to Suleja prison.”

Earlier, Idachaba had told the court that all efforts to bring other co-defendants were not possible as their present location could not be ascertained. The News Agency of Nigeria

(NAN), learnt that it had been very difficult for the prosecution to serve the co-defendants and prayed the court to adjourn the matter to another day.

“We will do our best to bring them to court; the bail application should not be taken now since others are not here, there is a new charge before the court and some other prove of evidence.

“We feel it may not be necessary to take the bail application now, this should be in the interest of justice; we pray that the application should be adjourned to be taken with the new amendment charge,’’ Idachaba said.

On his part, the defendant’s counsel led by Mr. Joseph Daudu (SAN), informed the judge that “more papers and better affidavit to defend the matter had been filed before the court.”