IVD’s wife petitioned us before her death, police tell court

The police on Monday told an Ikeja high court that they were seeking justice in the death of Abimbola Ogbonna, who accused Ikechukwu ‘IVD’ Ogbonna, her husband, of threatening her life.

NAN reports that Fetuga Olatunji told Modupe Nicole-Clay, the judge, that Abimbola, before her death, wrote a petition to the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), zone 2 headquarters, Onikan, Lagos, against the auto dealer.

Ikechukwu is facing charges of involuntary manslaughter before the court. He is being prosecuted by the Lagos state government.

IVD, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Olatunji was led in evidence by Adeshola Bello, the counsel to the state government.

He testified that the 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,” he said.

“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.”

During cross-examination by Victor Ogunde, the counsel to the defendant, the witness said, “The reason we didn’t have a report is that 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.

In a suit marked LD/21055C/2023, the 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 in the Lekki area of the state.

The alleged offences are contrary to Sections 217 and 229 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Bimbo died in October last year. A sister to Bimbo also accused IVD of killing his wife.

In February, the car dealer was remanded by the state magistrate court in Ebute Meta in a judgment delivered by Adebayo Kafayat Tella.