Magistrate Directs Remand Of Lagos Auto Dealer Over Wife's Death

An Ebute Meta Magistrates' Court, presided over by Magistrate (Mrs.) Adebayo Kafayat Tella, on Tuesday, directed the remand of a Lagos-based auto dealer, Ikechukwu Daryl Ogbonna, over the death of his wife, the late Abimbola Martins-Ogbonna.

She arrived at the decision consequent upon the advice issued by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions, DPP, which had maintained that Ogbonna, should be charged with involuntary manslaughter.

Making public the Advice of the DPP, Magistrate Tella held that the defendant will be arraigned before the Lagos High Court, and should be remanded in custody pending his arraignment, and filing of information against him.

But his counsel, Mr. Abubakar Yesufu, prayed the court to allow the defendant to be released based on an earlier bail condition granted him.

However, In turning down the request, Magistrate Tella held that her court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain a case of involuntary manslaughter; hence all bail applications should be presented before the High Court.

The matter has been adjourned until March 7, 2023.

It would be recalled that the 37-year-old Ogbonna was arrested by the Lagos State Police Command over the death of his wife, Abimbola, in the Lekki area of the state.

The duo had been married for 16 years, with the union blessed with five children.

The marriage, however, was fraught with disagreement and alleged domestic violence.

At the echelon of their marital war, the couple had separated but were said to have reunited.

Regrettably, on Saturday, October 15, 2023, there was a fire incident at their Lekki mansion, as Abimbola was caught in the inferno.

Abimbola was rushed to a hospital, where she died as a result of the injuries she sustained.

Meanwhile, the family of the deceased, while requesting justice pointed accusing fingers at the police for cover-up, intimidation, and an attempt to force the family into an out-of-court settlement with Ogbonna, and also drop charges against him. 

The family also alleged that the police had changed Ogbonna’s charges from ‘manslaughter’ to ‘negligence’ to make it easily bailable.

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