An Ikeja High Court on Monday sentenced one Akinwale Akinlabi to 12 years’ imprisonment for killing his wife, Tope, who died on Feb. 2, 2020, due to sustained injury.
Akinlabi was charged with inflicting bodily injury on his wife, which resulted to her death.
He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge of manslaughter preferred against him by the Lagos State Government.
While delivering judgment on Monday, Justice Oyindamola Ogala held that the prosecution sufficiently proved the charge of manslaughter against Akinlabi.
She held that the prosecution provided circumstantial evidence beyond every reasonable doubt, adding that the unlawful acts of the accused harmed the deceased and caused her death.
She said that it was clear from the evidence before the court that the fatality arose from the violence which occurred between the convict and his wife.
The judge, however, said it was also clear that the death was unintentional and that the deceased died shortly after the fight.
“The vertical scars on the back of the deceased as stated in exhibit (f) corroborates the evidence of the prosecution witnesses.
“Prosecution has indeed established the ingredients of the offence of manslaughter, the defendant is therefore accordingly convicted of same.
“Having heard and considered the plea of the defence counsel, and also taking into consideration the peculiarity of this case, the defendant is accordingly sentenced to a term of 12 years imprisonment.
“The sentencing shall begin from the period of his incarceration, Feb. 3, 2020,” Ogala held.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Akinlabi was arraigned on July, 26, 2021, on a count of manslaughter.
The prosecution counsel, Mrs. Uju Nwaogazi, had told the court that the convict committed the offence on Feb. 2, 2020, at No 23, Adeogun Street, Ijaiye Ojokoro, Lagos.
According to the prosecution, the offence contravenes Section 229 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Insp. Jumai Adonduwa, the first prosecution witness had during the commencement of trial, on May 12, 2022, testified that the deceased reported her husband to the police for domestic violence before her death.
The convict had in his defense, said that he was married to his wife for 21 years but denied any form of domestic violence. (NAN)(
