The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on Monday convicted Maryam Sanda of the murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello.
Delivering judgment, Justice Yusuf Halilu, held that there was circumstantial evidence coupled with her testimony and statement to the police that she “fatally” stabbed her husband to death in Abuja on November 19, 2017.
Her deceased husband has been variously reported as a son or nephew of a former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Haliru Bello.
Sanda, a mother of two, her mother and her other relatives broke down in tears immediately the judge pronounced her guilt.
Her mother who was occupying a back seat sped out of the court as she wept.
Sanda, however, attempted fleeing after the judgement was passed but the court and prison officials dragged her back into the dock.
In the middle of the confusion, the defence lawyer attempted to make a plea for allocutus (plea for mercy), but the judge said he needed to rise for the courtroom to restored to normalcy.
The judge said he would return to deliver the sentence after some minutes.
