Alleged murder: SANs’ withdrawal stalls Maryam Sanda’s trial

The ongoing trial of Maryam Sanda, for alleged murder of her husband, Bilayaminu Bello, before Justice Yusuf Halilu of the FCT High Court, Maitama, on Thursday, suffered yet another adjournment for the third time.
The case was adjourned because of the withdrawal of three Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) namely Joseph Daudu, A. T. Kehinde and Rotimi Ogunesan, who are defence counsel.
The prosecution alleged that Sanda, on November 19, 2017, at their residence in Abuja, conspired and murdered her husband, Bello, son of a former PDP chairman, Dr Haliru Bello.
Charged along with Sanda are her mother, Mrs Maimuna Aliyu, her brother, Aliyu Sanda, and her housemaid, Sadiya Aminu.
Sanda had earlier in March, been granted bail following a medical report that she was pregnant and that she could not withstand the rigours of the Suleja prison.
The court had also considered her asthmatic condition as part of the reason to have granted her bail.
At the resumed hearing on Thursday, the prosecuting counsel, James Idachaba, informed the court that he had been served with three letters in respect of the trial.
Idachaba informed the court that the three letters were from the defence lawyers, who announced their withdrawal in the case.
He said that the content of the letters also informed him of the takeover of the defense by another lawyer, Mr Olusegun Jolaawo of Ricky Tarfa Chambers.
Idachaba sought the court’s permission for an adjournment to enable the defence regularise his appearance in the case.
He informed the court that the first defendant, Sanda, who recently put to bed, was also absent from court.
Jolaawo informed the court that a report from the hospital where she put to bed stated that she must be allowed at least a period of six weeks rest after delivery to be fit to appear for trial.
Jolaawo pleaded with the court to grant adjournment to enable the new chamber in the matter study the case files.
Halilu granted the defence counsel’s request and adjourned the matter until October 24 for definite continuation of hearing.