Trader in court for stabbing brother-in-law to death

The Ebute Meta Magistrate’s Court has ordered the remand of a 29-year-old woman, Obiageri Oriuwa, for allegedly stabbing her brother-in-law, Ikechukwu Oriuwa, 37, to death with a kitchen knife.

The incident happened at Ladega Street, Olodi Apapa Ajegunle, Lagos State.

The magistrate, Ms Y.J Badejo-Okusanya, said the defendant should be kept in prison pending legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecution.

It was learnt that the defendant, whose husband is based in the United States, lived in the same compound with the victim.

A day to the incident, Obaigeri was said to have turned on a generator in the compound, which sparked and caught fire around midnight, spreading panic among residents.

The late Ikechukwu, who was a medical practitioner, was said to have started a quarrel with Obiageri for her carelessness and for almost setting the house on fire.

The quarrel reportedly worsened the following day, as there was a scuffle between the duo.

The police told the court that Obiageri in fit of anger dashed to the kitchen and brought out a knife with which she stabbed the deceased in the hand.

He reportedly bled to death.

The defendant was subsequently arrested and arraigned on one count of murder.

The Investigating Police Officer, Inspector Alexander Onoja, in a remand application brought before the court, said the defendant confessed to the offence, was arrested with exhibits and was identified by witnesses.

Onoja, however, said investigation had yet to be concluded on the matter.

The charge reads, “That you, Obiageri Oriuwa, on January 28, 2014, about 8.30am, at 54, Ladega Street, Olodi Apapa Ajegunle, Lagos in the Lagos Magisterial District, did unlawfully kill one Ikechukwu Oriuwa, aged 37 years, by stabbing him with a kitchen knife and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria 2011.”

The defendant’s plea was not taken.

The police prosecutor, Inspector Asu Feddy, asked that the defendant be kept in prison pending DPP’s advice.

The defence counsel, C.J Okoro, and Spurgeon Ataene, however, asked the court to reconsider the matter as the defendant acted in self defence.

Okoro said, “This is a case of legal homicide because she did it in self defence.”

Badejo-Okusanya, however, upheld the application for remand and rejected the defence counsel’s argument.

She said the matter should be left to the discretion of the DPP.