Man Sentenced To Death Over Wife’s Murder

Justice Lateefat Okunnu of
an Ikeja High Court has, sentenced Akolade Arowolo to death over the murder of his wife, Titilayo.
Akolade was charged with stabbing his wife, a banker, to death on June 24, 2011 at their residence at No. 8, Akindeinde St., Isolo, Lagos.
The chronology of the court proceedings during the trial of the 32-year-old convict is recorded below.
July  7,2011
Akolade Arowolo was arraigned before a Yaba Magistrates’ Court over murder of his wife, Titilayo on June 24, 2011.
His plea was not taken and the case was adjourned pending the advice of the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
December 21,2011
The case was transferred to the Ikeja High Court, and he was arraigned before Justice Lateefat Okunnu.
He pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge of murder.
The court remanded him at the Ikoyi Prison, Lagos.
The case was adjourned till January 17, 2013 for substantive trial.
January 17,2012
Arowolo was brought to court but the trial stalled due to absence of the prosecution’s first witness, Mr George Oyakhire.
The Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution, Mrs Olabisi Ogungbesan, said that Oyakhire, the father of Titilayo, was not available.
The matter was adjourned till February 7, 2012
February  7, 2012
The trial began with the deceased’s father and sister testifying against Akolade.
Mr George Oyakhire and his daughter, Ijeh, testified that Akolade’s marriage to Titilayo was characterised by violence and abuse.
The couple’s co-tenant, Mr Adewale Adeyemi, also testified that he heard a loud noise when he was in his apartment.
He claimed that he saw Akolade Arowolo rushing out with a deep cut in his palms after the incident.
The court adjourned the trial till February  20, 2012.
February 20,2012
The prosecution tendered some pieces of evidence relating to the murder which were admitted by the court as exhibits.
They included a kitchen knife used in the murder, four mobile phones and 29 crime-scene photographs taken by the police.
The prosecution called two more witnesses to give evidence.