An Abuja Court of Appeal has affirmed the death sentence and conviction pronounced on Maryam Sanda for the killing of late husband Bilyamin Mohammed Bello– son of a former PDP Chairman.
The seating Judge Stephen Adah, upheld the sentence pronounced earlier this year while speaking on behalf of the panel of justice.
“I have gone through the record before the court and I am fully certain that the learned trial court did not engage any investigation outside the evidence before it,”
“The appellant did not point out where the trial judge went out of the scope of his duties to carry out an investigation.”
Justice Stephen Adah, who gave reasons for the decision stated that there was a clear establishment of the matters of the offence and the appellant had misunderstood the word “investigation” used by the court at the time.
He also explained that obvious circumstances could stand as proof for an alleged crime in the absence of organic facts whilst securing the conviction handed to Sanda.
“We have no choice also in the face of these convincing situations that the conclusion of the trial court cannot in light of the facts in the face of the records before us be faulted”
“Having resolved all the issues against the appellant, it is our conclusion that this appeal is lacking in merit and the appeal is hereby dismissed.”
“Then that of the trial court delivered on the 27 day of January 2020 is affirmed and also the conviction and sentence handed down by the trial court are also affirmed.” He said.
Maryam Sanda was convicted and sentenced to death by hanging on January 27, 2020, by Judge Yusuf Halilu who oversaw the trial. This followed after an arraignment for culpable homicide with a two-count charge.
Haiku had stated that “She should reap what she has sown, for it has been said that ‘thou shall not kill’ and whoever kills in cold blood deserves death as his own reward”
“Convict also clearly deserves to die, accordingly I hereby sentence Maryam Sanda to death by hanging until she dies.”
Sanda, who was unsatisfied with the sentence sought a second opinion from the Appeal Court and stated the lack of substantial evidence and testimonies from witnesses amongst other points as her reason for dissatisfaction.
