4th December, 2013
A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja this morning reserved judgment in the case of a Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, Youth Pastor, Akolade Arowolo who allegedly murdered his banker wife, Titilayo in 2011.
Justice Lateefat Okunnu ruled this morning that a date for judgment will be communicated to parties in the matter.
Justice Okunnu gave the ruling after parties submitted their final written addresses to the court today.
Arowolo’s Lawyer, Olanrewaju Ajanaku submitted that there was no substantive evidence linking his client to the murder of his wife.
He noted that since none of the prosecution witnesses witnessed the alleged fight between the couple, their testimonies were mere hearsay.
Ajanaku argued that it would be improper for the court to convict his client based on the evidence provided by persons who were not present at the scene of the incident.
He urged the court to discharge his client since none of the prosecution witnesses was able to directly link his client to the murder of Titi.
Director of Public Prosecution, Olabisi Ogungbesan however countered Ajanaku’s submission saying that prosecution had provided enough evidence for the court to convict Arowolo.
Ogungbesan said that evidence provided by prosecution showed that the defendant was the only person present with the deceased, who forensic analysis proved was killed by multiple knife stabs.
The Lead Prosecution Counsel also noted that the defendant was seen with blood stains on his car by the police moments after the alleged fight with his late wife.
Ogungbesan also submitted that Arowolo’s act was intentional since he allegedly stabbed the wife more than 76 times.
She urged the court to convict the defendant as charged.
The trial of Arowolo lasted more than 23 months.
He was arraigned on 21 December 2011, on a one-count charge of murder. He pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The accused, was thereafter, remanded in Ikoyi Prisons.
The Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), alleged that the accused murdered Titilayo on 24 June, 2011 in their residence at 8 Akindeinde St., Isolo, Lagos.
The prosecution, led by Mrs Ogungbesan closed its case against the accused on 19 November,2012, after calling 12 witnesses.
The deceased relatives, including her father, George Oyakhire and her step-mother, Adetoun, had testified that the marriage was characterised by domestic violence.
Another witness, Prof. John Obafunwa, a Consultant Pathologist and Chief Medical Examiner of Lagos State, had also testified that Titilayo was stabbed 76 times.
However, Arowolo, who testified before the court on May 22, blamed his in-laws for the trouble in his marriage.
He denied the allegation that he murdered his wife
Arowolo claimed that Titilayo died after accidentally falling on a knife she was using to stab him during a quarrel on his birthday.
—Henry Ojelu