A High Court sitting in the Ikeja area of Lagos State has sentenced one Akinwale Akinlabi to 12 years imprisonment for killing his wife, Tope.
Akinlabi was charged with inflicting bodily injury on his wife, which resulted in her death.
He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge of manslaughter preferred against him by the Lagos State Government.
While delivering judgement on Monday, November 25, 2024, Justice Oyindamola Ogala held that the prosecution sufficiently proved the charge of manslaughter against Akinlabi.
Justice Ogala said the prosecution provided circumstantial evidence beyond every reasonable doubt, adding that the unlawful acts of the accused harmed the deceased and caused her death.
She said it was clear from the evidence before the court that the fatality arose from the violence that occurred between the convict and his wife.
The judge, however, said it was also clear that the death was unintentional and that the deceased died shortly after the fight.
Justice Ogala said: “The vertical scars on the back of the deceased as stated in exhibit (f) corroborates the evidence of the prosecution witnesses.
“Prosecution has indeed established the ingredients of the offence of manslaughter. The defendant is therefore accordingly convicted of the same.
“Having heard and considered the plea of the defence counsel, and also taking into consideration the peculiarity of this case, the defendant is accordingly sentenced to a term of 12 years imprisonment.
“The sentencing shall begin from the period of his incarceration, February 3, 2020.”
Akinlabi was arraigned on July 26, 2021, on a count charge of manslaughter.
The prosecution counsel, Uju Nwaogazi, told the court that the convict committed the offence in the Ijaiye Ojokoro area of Lagos on February 2, 2020.
According to the prosecution, the offence contravenes Section 229 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The convict had, in his defence, said he was married to his wife for 21 years but denied any form of domestic violence.
