Apprentice, 22, Smashes Widow’s Head With Pestle Over Late Husband’s Multi Million Naira Business

MICHAEL AKINOLA 

A widow, Mrs. Vivian Okeke, is lying critically ill at an undisclosed hospital in Lagos State after her 22-year old apprentice, Ifechukwu Okonkwo, used a pestle to smash her head in order to take over her late husband’s multi million Naira business.

 

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened on 2nd June, 2024, at No. 39 Cacatin Road by pipeline, Shagari Estate, Ipaja area of Lagos, where they reside.

 

The suspect, Okonkwo has been arrested and charged for attempted murder and stealing.

 

The suspect allegedly committed the act after the victim’s husband died and left multi million Naira assets including three shops, which the victim took over and started managing the businesses.

 

It was gathered that the victim’s husband brought Okonkwo and others from their village in the SouthEast as apprentices with an agreement that after serving for some years,  he will settle and free them.

 

However, the woman’s husband died in the process and and left huge sums of money including properties in the care of the wife to manage.

 

After the burial, the woman still retained Okonkwo alongside other apprentices to continue to assist her in managing their business with the promise to fulfill the agreement her late husband had to settle them when they complete the agreed number of years.

 

However, the suspect reportedly perfected plans to kill the madam and take over the business, which prompted him to contact another person now at large to carry out the act.

 

After they returned from business in the evening, the suspect, Okonkwo, reportedly took the pestle and repeatedly hit the madam on her head. She slumped and became unconscious before she was rescued by neighbours and rushed to the hospital.

 

The suspect, after committing the act, thought she had died and immediately took her ATM card and went to withdraw money from her business account before the information leaked over what happened and he was eventually apprehended.

 

The matter was reported to the Police at Ipaja Division. He was arrested and detained at the station for interrogation over his alleged conduct. And after rounds of interrogation, the Police found him culpable of attempted murder and stealing.

 

He was consequently charged before the Ejigbo Magistrate Court for the alleged offence, which attracts several years of imprisonment.

 

He pleaded not guilty.

 

The Prosecutor, Supol Benedict Aigbokhan, then asked the Court to refer the matter to the DPP for legal advice because of the nature of the alleged offence.

 

The Presiding Magistrate, K.A. Ariyo, granted him bail in the sum of N1m with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood, blood relation and tax payment while their addresses will be verified by the Court.

 

The Court also directed the prosecutor to duplicate the file and send it to the DPP for advice.

 

The matter was adjourned till 12th July, 2024, for mention for the report of the DPP’s advice to be available, which will determine if the matter will be transferred to the High Court or not over jurisdiction.