Man accused of killing banker wife collapses in court

Posted by admin Headlines Wednesday, June 27th, 2012

The testimony of Akolade Arowolo, who is facing trial at the Lagos High Court, Ikeja for allegedly killing his banker wife, Tititaalyo, was cut short yesterday. Reason: he collapsed in the dock, forcing Justice Lateefa Okunnu to stand down the matter to enable him take his medication and rest.

Before the collapse, the court heard that a foremost pathologist, Prof. John Obafunwa carried out some tests on Arowolo before his arraignment.

Inspector Benson Ajie, a prosecution witness, told Justice Lateefa Okunnu that Akolade was taken before the Lagos Chief pathologist at the Lagos State Teaching Hospital(LASUTH) because of the nature of the wounds found on him at the time of the murder of his wife, Titilayo.

Inspector Benson Ajie told the court that the defendant, while being interrogated, told him that he and his late wife struggled with a knife and that this was responsible for his wounds.

The witness, who was being led in evidence by the Director of Public Prosecution, Mrs Olabisi Ogungbesan, before Justice Lateefa Okunnu at the resumed hearing of the matter, added that Akolade also told him that he jumped from the balcony of their home down to the ground floor on the day of the incident.

Akolade, he said, told him that this was responsible for his limping.

Akolade, 31, who claimed to be a youth pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), is facing trial on a one-count charge of allegedly stabbing Titilayo to death at their 8, Akindeinde Street, Isolo, Lagos home.

Inspector Ajie told the court that he took Akolade to two hospitals – the Police Clinic at Panti and the Falomo Police Hospital for treatment because the defendant had some deep open wounds on his palm and navel area.

He added that Akolade made three statements while he was being questioned by him on June 27, June 30 and July 4, 2012. The statements were admitted as exhibits P48 – P50.

The witness also tendered, the letter of authority appended by Akolade for the release of his car to his father and which was admitted as Exhibit 51.

In answer to a question by Akolade’s counsel, Olanrewaju Ajanaku, Inspector Ajei said he was not in position to determine whether Akolade’s pictures and that of his wounds were taken during investigations.

Another prosecution witness, Sergeant Bayern Cletus, an Investigating Police Officer at Aswani Police Station, told the court Tuesday that he was at the house of the couple on the day of the incident.

Cletus said when he visited the residence of the deceased in Isola, he met Titilayo’s body on the bed with her face up.

He added that she was in a pool of her blood “with a deep cut on her breast and stab wounds on her right eye as well as several bruises on her face and neck”. “The whole apartment was very rough and scattered”.

Justice Okunnu adjourned further hearing till tomorrow.

-Nationwp_posts