A Lagos High Court in Ikeja will on Friday (tomorrow) deliver judgement
in the murder trial of Akolade Arowolo, a 32-year-old man who was accused of
killing his banker wife, Titilayo.
Akolade was said to have stabbed his wife to death on June 28, 2011.
The case, which is before Justice Lateefa Okunnu at the Ikeja High
Court, will come to a close on Friday according to a court list sighted by our
correspondent on Wednesday.
The case began in January 2012. The prosecution, led by Mrs. Olabisi
Ogungbesan of the Department of Public Prosecutions, provided eight witnesses,
while the defence, led by Olanrewaju Ajanaku, presented six witnesses.
The father of the deceased, Mr. George Oyakhire, had told the court that
the couple had a history of violence.
George had also said his daughter told him that Akolade had once
threatened to throw her off the top of their apartment on the second floor of
the building.
One of the police witnesses, Buster Ajie, said Akolade also confessed
to struggling with Titilayo over a knife.
The sisters of the deceased, Aidehi and Folake, also gave evidence in
court as regards the domestic violence which marred the relationship.
The pathologist, Prof. John Obafunwa, who also gave evidence, said 76
stab wounds were counted on Titilayo’s corpse.
Obafunwa, who is also the Vice-Chancellor, Lagos State University, said
the injuries could not have been self-inflicted.
Akolade, who was the last person to give evidence for the defence,
denied killing his wife although he admitted that there was a struggle over a
knife.
Akolade claimed he loved his wife and said although the marriage had its
ups and downs, it was blissful.
Akolade’s father, Mudashiru, who gave evidence for the defence, said
Titilayo’s stepmother, Toun, was the one that destroyed the marriage.
Akolade’s mother, Bolanle Arowolo, also described her son as a
responsible man.
Ogungbesan had urged during her final address that only the death
penalty would suffice for Akolade.
“It has been established that Akolade was the last person to see her
alive.The pathologist had said the 76 stab wounds could not have been
self-inflicted,” she had said.
Ajanaju had, however, argued that there were inconsistencies in the
testimonies of the witnesses.
He said, “Those who saw the corpse saw a few cuts on it. How come the
pathologist was able to count 76 stab wounds? Also, Akolade is the only
eyewitness and is the only one capable of giving a true account of what
happened.”