.jpeg)
The family of late Abimbola Ogbonna, wife of the popular Lagos-based auto dealer, Ikechukwu Ogbonna, has asked the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, to resist moves to effect a review of the legal advice to prosecute Ikechukwu in court for involuntary manslaughter.
Ikechukwu is presently being remanded in prison over complicity in the death of his wife in a fiery inferno at their Lekki home in October 2022.
The request is coming amid a protest letter by the alleged mistress of the suspect, Blessing Okoro, also known as 'BlessingCEO', which is seeking a review of the ‘facts’ on the claims that she was the couple’s therapist and adviser before the incident leading to her death.
Late Abimbola's family through a petition addressed to the DPP also berated claims by 'BlessingCEO', that the deceased until her death, abused Ikechukwu Ogbonna for about 15 years.
The lawyer also wants the DPP to charge the said adviser as an accomplice.
In the reply captioned: 'RE: Application To Review The DPP’S Report In The Case C.O.P VS Ikechukwu Ogbonna Sent To DPP By MS Blessing Okoro (a.k.a. BlessingCEO) Is An Attempt To Subvert Justice', Mr Eriata urged the government to investigate and charge Blessing Okoro (a.k.a. BlessingCEO) as an accomplice to the death of the late Mrs Abimbola Ogbonna, adding that the DPP or the court has powers to invite any person to give evidence in any matter before the court if necessary, but the DPP’s legal advice which is done on behalf of the Lagos State Government, Ministry of Justice, Lagos State and the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Lagos State is final in the circumstance.
Below is the detailed reply:
17th February 2023
The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Lagos State Ministry of Justice,
State Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja,
Lagos.
Dear Sir,
RE: APPLICATION TO REVIEW THE DPP’S REPORT IN THE CASE C.O.P VS. IKECHUKWU OGBONNA SENT TO DPP BY MS. BLESSING OKORO (a.k.a. BlessingCEO) IS AN ATTEMPT TO SUBVERT JUSTICE
The above-named subject refers.
We are solicitors to the family of the late Mrs Abimbola Ogbonna who allegedly set herself ablaze under the watchful eye of her husband, Mr Ikechukwu Ogbonna on the 12th day of October 2022.
We are aware of the DPP’s report (Legal Advice) of 28th December 2022 and the revocation of the bail earlier granted by Her Honour, Mrs Adebayo Kafayat Tella of the Yaba Magisterial District (Court 7) Ebute-Metta which directed that the defendant be remanded in prisons pending the filing of the charge before the Lagos State High Court.
We are also aware of the Application for bail pending arraignment filed by the defendant’s counsel, Mr Victor Ogude, SAN, on the 2nd day of February 2023 and argued on the 9th February 2023 before Honourable Justice Nicole-Clay of the Lagos State High Court which is now adjourned for ruling on the 23rd day of February 2023.
We are also aware of the protest letter written by Ms Blessing Okoro a.k.a. BlessingCEO which urged your good offices to review the legal advice based on what she called “new facts” or “statement of the maid (house girl)” that was omitted from the file.
The recent development, in this case amazed the deceased family because; (1) Blessing Okoro is not the investigating police officer and not from the SCID Panti, Yaba. How did she become aware that material evidence was omitted and is now in her possession?
(2) Blessing Okoro knew that the police claimed the maid absconded but recorded her voice message and questions put to her by the police which already forms part of the records transmitted to the DPP’s office before the legal advice was made.
(3) The housemaid's testimony is not new and does not affect the DPP’s report in any way because the question is not whether Ikechukwu poured kerosene on the wife but that his actions and inactions caused the alleged self-immolation.
(4) In what capacity is Ms Blessing Okoro writing to the DPP, is it as the “new wife” or “a consultant” to Ikechukwu Ogbonna?
(5) What has been Blessing Okoro’s relationship with the defendant, Mr Ikechukwu Ogbonna that she authoritatively claimed that the late Mrs Abimbola Ogbonna has abused and traumatised the husband for the past 15 years, and how did she get her facts if she has not been part of the set-up that led to the incident of 12th October 2022?
(6) Is it now the practice that a girlfriend or a wife to be of an accused person would suggest to the DPP to review the legal advice against her prospective husband without any new direct, compelling or cogent reason except that which served her selfish interest?
(7) What is new in Blessing Okoro’s new facts?
a) Is it that Late Abimbola Ogbonna did not die as a result of the fire incident?
b) Is it that the husband (Ikechukwu Ogbonnna) did not watch her being roasted in the fire incident and only succeeded in videoing her excruciating pains?
c) Is it that the said husband did not abandon her on their way to the hospital where she died after 3 days only to be on social media for 24 hours celebrating his acclaimed freedom and liberation?
d) Is it that the video did not show the husband standing aloof and encouraging Abimbola to kill herself (assuming she set herself ablaze)?
e) What was the role of BlessingCEO after Abimbola’s death?
f) Did BlessingCEO not announce to the world of her romantic relationship with Ikechukwu Ogbonna when her family and children are still mourning the unprecedented incident and death of the late Mrs Abimbola Ogbonna?
g) What is new in BlessingCEO's protest letter and compiled videos which she smuggled to the DPP’s office?
h) Does BlessingCEO video removed the fact that Abimbola did not report her abusive and violent treatment by her husband – Ikechukwu Ogbonna to the office of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency and an investigation was being carried out in September 2022 before the incident in October 2022?
i) Is it not true that the Domestic Violence Agency rescued Abimbola from the claws of Ikechukwu Ogbonna through the RR Squad of Lagos State in response to a distress call?
j) Is it not true that the Domestic Violence Agency wrote to Ajiwe Police Station to intervene and arrest Ikechukwu Ogbonna before the death of Abimbola and the police failed and refused to do anything because of Ikechukwu Ogbonna’s godfather?
k) Is it not true that the late Abimbola Ogbonna and her mom reported the case to the AIG Zone 2 office and the petition of threat to life was approved but Abimbola died before the police could arrest Ikechukwu Ogbonna?
The family of the late Abimbola Ogbonna is grieved by the protest letter written by Blessing Okoro (a.k.a. BlessingCEO) but states as follows:
i. That they want justice in this case and would resist any manipulation of the prosecutorial process by Blessing Okoro or any of the defendant’s godfather.
ii. That the DPP’s legal advice (report) is final and cannot be changed or reviewed at this stage except if there is cogent, direct and compelling evidence to warrant otherwise.
iii. That the DPP should ensure the charge is given a permanent charge number and assigned to a trial judge without further delay.
iv. That the charge of involuntary manslaughter is a felony with life imprisonment if the defendant is found guilty and the evidence before the court and the role played by the defendant is enough material evidence for the court’s evaluation and final decision whereas the cooked-up new facts or evidence by Blessing Okoro cannot change the report and should not be allowed for any reason.
(8) That the DPP’s powers cannot be hijacked by any person or authority or manipulated whatsoever and his legal advice is final because the maid’s evidence which the police recorded through the phone was part of the evidence or materials considered by the DPP before the report was made.
(9) That Blessing Okoro and her crew should forward all their new facts or evidence for the defence of Ikechukwu Ogbonna in court and not through the back door.
(10) That the date of the incident should be confirmed and corrected in the processes before the court and the legal advice forthwith.
We have confidence in the Lagos State prosecutorial process, and we urge you to resist any temptation to review the legal advice based on the protest letter from the desperate Blessing Okoro (a.k.a. BlessingCEO) or any of their agents.
We also urge you to use your good office to investigate and charge Blessing Okoro (a.k.a. BlessingCEO) as an accomplice to the death of the late Mrs Abimbola Ogbonna.
Finally, the DPP or the court has the power to invite any person to give evidence in any matter before the court if necessary but the DPP’s legal advice which is done on behalf of the Lagos State Government, Ministry of Justice, Lagos State and the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Lagos State is final in the circumstance.
Yours faithfully,
ODIANA ERIATA ESQ.
All rights reserved. This material and other digital volumes on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from THE NEWS ACCELERATOR NETWORK.
For advert placement, please contact thenewsacceleratornetwork@gmail.com or 08033599492.
إرسال تعليق