Lagos: A Lagos State High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) has reserved judgment until February 27 in the case involving a 50-year-old man, Benjamin Ogudoro, who is accused of burning his wife and brother-in-law to death.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the judgment was initially slated for February 13 before Justice Sherifat Sonaike. However, it could not be delivered due to undisclosed reasons. Consequently, Justice Sonaike adjourned the judgment to February 27.
Ogudoro was arraigned on December 7, 2022, by the Lagos State Government on a four-count charge that includes murder. The prosecution alleges that the defendant killed his wife, Chinyere, who had recently returned from Scotland, and her brother, Ifeanyi, by setting them on fire.
The incident reportedly took place on April 1, 2022, around 3:30 a.m., at House 5, Zone 7, Oteyi Garden Estate, Abule Ado in the Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos. The state prosecution contends that Ogudoro poured petrol on the bodies of his wife and brother-in-law, as well as on the mattress, before setting them ablaze while they were asleep.
The alleged crimes are said to violate Sections 223 and 341 of the criminal law of Lagos State, 2015.