By Lukman Olabiyi, lakes
The Lagos State Magistrate’s Court in Ebute Metta has ordered the remand in custody of Ikechukwu Daryl Ogbonna for the death of his wife, the late Abimbola Martins-Ogbonna.
Ogbonna was remanded in custody on the advice of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Lagos State, who says that Ogbonna should be charged with manslaughter.
Reading the DPP Council, Judge Adebayo Kafayat Tella (Mrs) at Tuesday’s proceedings, said the defendant will be arraigned before the Lagos High Court and must remain in pre-trial detention pending his arraignment and presentation. of information against you.
Defense lawyer Mr. Abubakar Yesufu prayed to the court to allow the defendant to be released based on the bail preconditions he was granted.
However, Justice Tella held that she lacks jurisdiction to hear a manslaughter case, so all applications for bail must be filed with the higher court.
The matter has been adjourned until March 7.
Ogbonna, a 37-year-old car dealer from Lagos, was arrested by the Lagos State Police Command in the death of his wife, Abimbola, in the Lekki area of the state.
Ikechukwu and Abimbola had been married for 16 years, and the union was blessed with five children.
The marriage was plagued by disagreements and alleged domestic violence.
At the climax of their confrontation, the couple broke up and is said to have reunited.
However, on Saturday, October 15, there was a fire in his Lekki mansion, as Abimbola was trapped in hell.
She was rushed to a hospital, where she died as a result of her injuries.
The family of the deceased, demanding justice, accused the police of cover-up, intimidation and attempting to force the family to settle out of court with Ogbonna and also drop the charges against him.
The family also alleged that the police had changed Ogbonna’s charges from ‘involuntary manslaughter’ to ‘negligence’ so that he could easily get out on bail.
The family, represented by Mr. Odiana Eriata, who was in court, said that the issue of domestic violence should have been properly investigated and an appropriate charge brought against the culprit.
