Justice Oyindamola Ogala of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja yesterday sentenced Akinwale Akinlabi to 12 years imprisonment for the manslaughter of his wife, Cecilia Tope Akinlabi.

The court found Akinlabi guilty of the charge brought against him by the Lagos State government.

The prosecution had alleged that Akinlabi unlawfully killed his wife on February 2, 2020, at their residence on No. 23, Adeogun Street, Ijaiye Ojokoro area of Lagos.

Arraigned on July 26, 2021, the defendant pleaded not guilty. However, following trial, Justice Ogala ruled yesterday that the prosecution had proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

In her judgment, Justice Ogala said: “Having carefully reviewed the evidence before the court, the evidence tendered and the position of the case law, the court finds that the prosecution has provided circumstantial evidence beyond reasonable doubt. The unlawful acts of the accused harmed the deceased and caused her death.”

The judge noted that the death arose from a violent altercation between the couple, which was unintentional but led to Cecilia’s demise shortly after the fight. She also highlighted that the injuries sustained by the deceased, as detailed in evidence, corroborated witness testimonies.

During the trial, which began on May 12, 2022, Inspector Jumai Adonduwa testified that the deceased had reported her husband for domestic violence just days before her death.

According to the prosecution, on January 30, 2020, Cecilia reported at a police station that her husband had beaten her with a bunch of brooms after she told him she didn’t have N100 he had demanded for a recharge card.

She reportedly left home to avoid further confrontation, but upon her return, the violence continued. The deceased’s son later told the court that his mother was beaten and pushed onto a glass shelf during an altercation, resulting in severe injuries.

The court heard that the deceased was bleeding and eventually collapsed before being rushed to the hospital, where she died.

In his defence, Akinlabi denied a history of violence in their 21-year marriage and claimed his wife had experienced attacks and fainting spells in the past.

Justice Ogala, however, held that the prosecution’s evidence was consistent and credible, convicting Akinlabi of manslaughter and sentencing him to 12 years imprisonment.