Ex-PDP chairman’s son: Police file murder charges against wife

The Police have filed criminal charges against Maryam Sanda who
allegedly stabbed her husband, Bilyamin Bello, to death last
Saturday.

Bilyamin, a real estate developer, was the son of a former
Peoples Democratic Party Chairman, Haliru Bello.

The Federal Capital Territory Police spokesman, Anjuguri Manzah,
said in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja that the command has
secured a remand order against Maryam for two weeks from the FCT
High Court pending the completion of investigation.

He added that this was done because the suspect has a
six-month-old baby which made it difficult to have her remanded in
prison custody.

Manzah said the case has been assigned to FCT High Court No. 32
Jabi, Abuja, for trial by the Chief Judge of FCT, adding that the
suspect was charged with culpable homicide punishable under Section
224 of the Penal Code.

He said, “It should also be noted that this present charge is as
a result of preliminary findings; at the end of investigation,
additional findings will determine whether the current charge will
be amended or whether other persons will be charged along with the
suspect.

“To assist the Police with their ongoing investigation, some
persons have been invited for questioning on the matter.”

Findings by our correspondent indicated that the security guards
who were picked up by the Police for interrogation in respect of
Bilyamin’s death have been released.

Our correspondent gathered that they narrated to investigators
what they knew about the events leading to the death of the
businessman.

They were said to have agreed to serve as prosecution witnesses
against Maryam after volunteering information on the alleged murder
to Police detectives.

“The security guards were released after telling the Police what
they knew about the incident.

“They subsequently agreed to serve as prosecution witnesses,
meaning they would appear in court to give evidence on the matter,”
a source explained.

The Police have filed criminal charges against Maryam Sanda who
allegedly stabbed her husband, Bilyamin Bello, to death last
Saturday.

Bilyamin, a real estate developer, was the son of a former
Peoples Democratic Party Chairman, Haliru Bello.

The Federal Capital Territory Police spokesman, Anjuguri Manzah,
said in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja that the command has
secured a remand order against Maryam for two weeks from the FCT
High Court pending the completion of investigation.

He added that this was done because the suspect has a
six-month-old baby which made it difficult to have her remanded in
prison custody.

Manzah said the case has been assigned to FCT High Court No. 32
Jabi, Abuja, for trial by the Chief Judge of FCT, adding that the
suspect was charged with culpable homicide punishable under Section
224 of the Penal Code.

He said, “It should also be noted that this present charge is as
a result of preliminary findings; at the end of investigation,
additional findings will determine whether the current charge will
be amended or whether other persons will be charged along with the
suspect.

“To assist the Police with their ongoing investigation, some
persons have been invited for questioning on the matter.”

Findings by our correspondent indicated that the security guards
who were picked up by the Police for interrogation in respect of
Bilyamin’s death have been released.

Our correspondent gathered that they narrated to investigators
what they knew about the events leading to the death of the
businessman.

They were said to have agreed to serve as prosecution witnesses
against Maryam after volunteering information on the alleged murder
to Police detectives.

“The security guards were released after telling the Police what
they knew about the incident.

“They subsequently agreed to serve as prosecution witnesses,
meaning they would appear in court to give evidence on the matter,”
a source explained.