The Police on Monday told an Ikeja High Court they were seeking justice in the death of one Abimbola Ogbonna, who accused her husband of threatening her life.
DSP Fetuga Olatunji told Justice Modupe Nicole-Clay that Abimbola, before her death, wrote a petition to the Nigeria Police Force, Zone 2 Headquarters, Onikan, Lagos, against her husband, Ikechukwu, an auto dealer.
Ikechukwu is facing charges of involuntary manslaughter before the court. He is being prosecuted by Lagos State Government. However, he pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Olatunji was led in evidence by counsel to Lagos State Government, Adeshola Bello. Olatunji testified that Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of the zone had directed his team to investigate the case.
"The AIG gave a directive to effect the arrest of the defendant (Ikechukwu) for attempted murder, threat to life, domestic violence and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.
"When we learnt that the matter was reported at the Ajah Police Station, a signal was sent that both the case file and the suspect should be transferred to the zonal headquarters. My team obtained a statement from Abimbola's mother because she (Abimbola) was not in a good state of health.
"However, two days later, while we were waiting for the case file alongside the suspect to be brought to Zone 2, information came that Abimbola had died.
"At that point, the AIG ordered that the matter should be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department Panti, for proper investigation," he said.
During cross-examination by counsel to the defendant, Victor Ogunde (SAN), the witness said, "The reason we didn’t have a report is because the investigation on the case was not concluded by us."
Nicole-Clay admitted in evidence, a number of documents tendered by prosecution. They include a certified true copy of the petition and a copy of the signal to the Ajah Police Station.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that, in a suit marked LD/21055C/2023, the Lagos State Government is accusing the auto dealer of involuntary manslaughter of his wife as well as causing her death by threat.
The government charged Ikechukwu with causing the death of Abimbola through a fire incident at their residence at Lekki area of the state. The alleged offences are contrary to Sections 217 and 229 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.