CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
The trial of a 50-year old man, Benjamin Ogundoro, who allegedly burnt his wife, Chinyere Ogundoro and his brother in-law, Ifeanyi Edeziem, to death has commenced at the High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos State.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that during the trial, the prosecution witness and sister to the deceased, Mrs. Uche Uwalaka, on Monday told the Court that the defendant, Benjamin Ogudoro has caused her family a lot of pain.
Mrs. Uwalaka, narrated that her mother passed on and currently in the mortuary as a result of pain and shock arising from the incident of the loss of her two children on the same day.
She was led in evidence by the Director of Public Prosecution, Dr Babajide Martins, and stated that the action of the defendant has led her only brother’s wife to become a widow and her late sister’s four children stranded.
“I am pleading for justice because of the pain of losing my siblings to the action of the defendant,” she said.
The defendant is standing trial for alleged murder before presiding judge, Justice Sherifat Sonaike, after he was arraigned on December 7, 2022, on a four-count charge of murder preferred against him by the Lagos State Government.
He was alleged to have killed his wife, Chinyere, who had just returned from Scotland, and her brother, Ifeanyi, by setting them ablaze on 1st April, 2022, at about 3.30am, at House 5, Zone 7, Oteyi Garden Estate, Abule Ado, Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos State.
The prosecution alleged that the defendant poured petroleum substance on the bodies of his wife and his brother-in-law, Ifeanyi, alongside the mattress and set them ablaze while asleep, which led to their death, and the alleged offences committed contravened Sections 223 and 341, of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.
However, the defendant pleaded not guilty and the trial commenced immediately.
At the resumed hearing of the case on Monday, the deceased sister concluded her testimony and was cross-examined where she explained that her late brother told her what transpired before he died while she was with him at the hospital.
The second prosecution witness, Stanley Ulasi, a former tenant of the defendant also narrated to the Court how the two siblings were burnt to death.
The matter was adjourned till 16th February, 2023, for the continuation of trial.