Marine engineer gets 15-year jail term for beating wife to death

Justice Raliat Adebiyi of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja has sentenced a 38-year-old marine engineer, Iheanacho Nkem to 15 years imprisonment for battering his wife, Regina to death.

Delivering the judgment yesterday, Justice Adebiyi found Nkem guilty of one count charge of involuntary manslaughter brought against him by the Lagos State government. The judge said the sentence should serve as a deterrent to men, who engage in various acts of domestic violence against their spouses.

“I have taken into account the prevalence of domestic violence in the country and this is to send a message to men who still engage in such a callous act to desist. The defendant is an educated person, who has knowledge of the consequence of his action.

“I also took note of the average Nigerian male expectancy age to be 54 years, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). The defendant was 34 years old when he committed the crime, he is now 38 years old.”

She, therefore, sentenced Nkem to 15 years imprisonment with effect from the date of the judgment.

During the trial, the prosecution, Mrs. Iyabo Olugasa, had told the court Nkem beat his wife Regina Iheanacho, 32, around 12:00a.m. on May 12, 2013 at their residence at No. 3, Calvary Street, Iyana-Isasi, Lagos-Badagry Expressway, Lagos.

“On that fateful day, he accused Regina of infidelity and he beat her to a state of unconsciousness. He did not immediately take her to hospital after she lost consciousness leading to her death in their home.”