Bolanle Akanji
Moderator
The Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions on Wednesday asked an Ikeja High Court to convict Akolade Arowolo for the alleged murder of his wife, Atinuke Arowolo.
The DPP Director, Mrs Olabisi Ogungbesan, recommended the penalty in her final address at the trial of Arowolo before Justice Lateefat Okunnu.
Ogungbesan believes the case has been proven “beyond reasonable doubt.” She said, "the evidence have shown that the deceased is dead. The only person that was with the deceased before her death at the material time was the accused.”
According to her, Arowolo has already admitted that he struggled with the deceased with a knife, killing her in the process and later escaping the crime scene.
The pathologist, Prof. John Obafunwa, also testified that the deceased was stabbed 76 times.
She alleged that Arowolo chose to use a lethal weapon (knife) knowing it could cause the death or grievous injury to his wife.
“No other person could have been responsible for the death of the deceased. I urge my lord to convict the accused as charged, having proved all the essential ingredients of murder,” She finished.
However, Arowolo’s Counsel, Mr Olarenwaju Ajanaku, urged the court to dismiss the charge and acquit Arowolo saying the prosecution had failed to prove its case against the accused beyond reasonable doubt as required by law.
“It is only being suspected that the accused was responsible for the death of the deceased. No sufficient facts have been led to prove this suspicion,” he argued.
The judgement date will be communicated by the court later.
The DPP Director, Mrs Olabisi Ogungbesan, recommended the penalty in her final address at the trial of Arowolo before Justice Lateefat Okunnu.
Ogungbesan believes the case has been proven “beyond reasonable doubt.” She said, "the evidence have shown that the deceased is dead. The only person that was with the deceased before her death at the material time was the accused.”
According to her, Arowolo has already admitted that he struggled with the deceased with a knife, killing her in the process and later escaping the crime scene.
The pathologist, Prof. John Obafunwa, also testified that the deceased was stabbed 76 times.
She alleged that Arowolo chose to use a lethal weapon (knife) knowing it could cause the death or grievous injury to his wife.
“No other person could have been responsible for the death of the deceased. I urge my lord to convict the accused as charged, having proved all the essential ingredients of murder,” She finished.
However, Arowolo’s Counsel, Mr Olarenwaju Ajanaku, urged the court to dismiss the charge and acquit Arowolo saying the prosecution had failed to prove its case against the accused beyond reasonable doubt as required by law.
“It is only being suspected that the accused was responsible for the death of the deceased. No sufficient facts have been led to prove this suspicion,” he argued.
The judgement date will be communicated by the court later.
