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Court To Deliver Judgment On Husband of Slain Banker Next Year

A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja has reserved judgment in the case of Akolade Arowolo, the man accused of allegedly murdering his banker wife, … Continue reading Court To Deliver Judgment On Husband of Slain Banker Next Year


A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja has reserved judgment in the case of Akolade Arowolo, the man accused of allegedly murdering his banker wife, Titilayo in 2011.

The trial judge, Justice Lateefat Okunnu reserved judgment today (Wednesday) after lawyers in the case adopted their final written addresses.

According to the court, a date for judgment will be communicated to parties in the matter.

With this development and in line with the legal requirement that stipulates that judgment should be delivered within 90 days after final addresses, the judgment should be delivered early next year.

In his written submission, counsel to Arowolo, Olanrewaju Ajanaku argued that there were no substantive evidence linking his client to the murder of his wife.

Ajanaku maintained that since none of the prosecution witnesses witnessed the alleged fight between the couple, their testimonies were mere hearsay.

The lawyer also submitted that it would be improper for the court to convict his client based on the evidence provided by persons who were not present at the scene of the incident.

He urged the court to discharge his client since none of the prosecution witnesses were unable to directly link his client to the murder of Titi.

But the Director of Public Prosecution, Olabisi Ogungbesan countered Ajanaku’s submission saying that the state has provided enough evidence for the court to convict Arowolo.

According to Ogungbesan, the evidence provided by the prosecution showed that the defendant was the only person present with the deceased who forensic analysis proved was killed by multiple knife stabs.

She further argued that the defendant was seen with blood stains on his car by the police moments after the alleged fight with his late wife.

Ogungbesan also submitted that Arowolo’s act was intentional since he allegedly stabbed the wife more than 76 times.
She urged the court to convict the defendant as charged.

Arowolo was arraigned on December 21 2011, on a one-count charge of murder and had pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The accused, was thereafter, remanded in Ikoyi Prisons.

The Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), alleged that the accused murdered Titilayo on 24 June, 2011 in their residence at 8 Akindeinde St., Isolo, Lagos.

The prosecution, led by Mrs Ogungbesan closed its case against the accused on 19thNovember, 2012, after calling 12 witnesses.

The deceased relatives, including her father, George Oyakhire and her step-mother, Adetoun, had testified that the marriage was characterised by domestic violence.

Another witness, Prof. John Obafunwa, a Consultant Pathologist and Chief Medical Examiner of Lagos State, had also testified that Titilayo was stabbed 76 times.

However, Arowolo, who testified before the court on May 22, blamed his in-laws for the trouble in his marriage.

He denied the allegation that he murdered his wife

Arowolo claimed that Titilayo died after accidentally falling on a knife she was using to stab him during a quarrel on his birthday.