Man arraigned for burning wife, brother-in-law to death

A prosecution witness, Mrs Uche Uwalaka, on Monday told a Lagos State High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square, that a murder suspect, Benjamin Ogudoro, who allegedly burnt his wife and brother-in-law to death, has caused her family a lot of pain.

Uwalaka, sister to Chinyere Ogundoro and Ifeanyi Edeziem who were burnt to death by her husband, Benjamin said her mother is late 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.

The witness, who was led in evidence in chief by the Director of Public Prosecution, Dr Babajide Martins, 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 Justice Sherifat Sonaike.

Ogundoro, 50, 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.

The prosecution said the incident happened on April 1, 2022, at about 3.30am, at House 5, Zone 7, Oteyi Garden Estate Abule Ado, in the Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos state.

The state alleged that the defendant poured petrol on the bodies of his wife and his brother-in-law, Ifeanyi, and the mattress and set them ablaze while asleep, which led to their death.

According to the prosecution, the offences committed contravened Sections 223 and 341, of the criminal law of Lagos State 2015.

However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge against him and the trial commenced immediately.

At the resumed hearing of the case on Monday, the deceased’s sister concluded her testimony and was cross-examined.

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 case was adjourned till February 16, for the continuation of trial.

(Punch)