News
Police Ask Appeal Court to Affirm Maryam Sanda’s Death Sentence for Killing Husband
The police in the Federal Capital Territory have urged the Court of Appeal in Abuja to affirm the death penalty imposed on Maryam Sanda, who was sentenced to death by the FCT High Court in Abuja for the murder of her husband, Bilyaminu Bello.
Justice Yusuf Halilu of the FCT High Court had held his judgment delivered on January 27, 2017 circumstantial evidence proved that Maryam “fatally” stabbed her husband to death in Abuja on November 19, 2017.
Maryam, a mother of two, had on February 19, 2020 filed 20-ground notice of appeal, praying for an order discharging, and acquitting her.
She contended that the judgment convicting her was tainted by bias and prejudices resulting in her being denied her right to fair hearing.
She also noted that her conviction was based on circumstantial evidence despite that there was reasonable doubt arising from the evidence of the witnesses in her favour.
But in their brief of argument filed in opposition to the appeal, the police maintained that contrary to the appellant’s contention, the trial judge properly evaluated the evidence in arriving at his judgment.
Police lawyer, Mr. James Idachaba, confirmed the filing of the brief of argument to our correspondent on Sunday.
He argued in the brief that setting aside the judgment would serve as an incentive to angry and unhappy spouses to take the life of their partners.
Idachaba maintained that affirming the judgment imposed by the judge would serve as deterrent to others who wished to commit the crime of culpable homicide.
He contended that Maryam was guilty of taking her husband’s life and was therefore deserving of the death penalty imposed on her by the judge.
The Punch
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared the immediate past governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, wanted. Yahaya Bello was declared wanted for offences bordering on economic and financial crimes, with special emphasis to an alleged N82.2 billion fraud.
This was contained in a press statement made available to the National Association of Online Security News Publishers, NAOSNP on Thursday.
The statement signed by Commission’s management reads as follows:
“Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, is wanted by the EFCCfor offences relating to economic and financial crimes to the tune of N80.2 bn.
“Anybody with information as to his whereabouts should report immediately to the commission or the nearest police station.”
The Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party has queried the continued stay in office of the party’s acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu.
Recently, many party members have raised concerns about the ongoing tenure of Damagum and Anywanwu in their respective positions.
Previously serving as the PDP National Deputy Chairman (North), Damagum assumed the role of acting National Chairman following the court’s suspension of the party’s National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, in March of the preceding year.
With the National Secretary being selected as the PDP candidate for the Imo State 2023 governorship election, the South zone has been grappling with nominating a replacement. Despite this, he, along with other party leaders, contested and retained the position of party secretary after losing to Governor Hope Uzodinnma.
The Punch
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed a three-count charge against Instagram celebrity, Pascal Okechukwu aka Cubana Chief Priest, for allegedly spraying and tampering with the Naira at a social event, in violation of the provisions of Central Bank Act of 2007.
Cubana Chief Priest will be arraigned on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, before Justice Kehinde Ogundare of the Federal High Court, Lagos.
Reports say the charge against Okechukwu was filed on April 4, 2024 by EFFC’s prosecutor Rotimi Oyedepo (SAN) alongside seven other lawyers representing the chairman of the Commission.
In Count 1, it was alleged, “that you, Okechukwu Pascal on 13th Feb. 2024, at Eko Hotel, within the jurisdiction of the court, while dancing during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 (Five Hundred Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same for two hours, and you thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007”.
In count 2, it was alleged, “that you Okechukwu Pascal sometime in 2020, in Lagos during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 (Five Hundred Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same for two hours, and you thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007”.
In Count 3, it was alleged, “that you Okechukwu Pascal sometime in January 2024, in Lagos during a social event, tampered with funds in the denomination of N500 (Five Hundred Naira) issued by the Central Bank of Nigeria by spraying same and you thereby committed an offence, contrary to and punishable under Section 21(1) of the Central Bank Act 2007”.
This is coming days after the EFCC secured the conviction controversial cross-dresser, Idris Okuneye aka Bobrisky, on similar charges. He was subsequently sentenced to six months imprisonment without an option of fine.
