Today, Lekan Shonde told an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court that he was innocent of his wife Ronke’s death after being docked by the police before Chief Magistrate O. A. Adelaja following Ronke’s death at their Egbeda, Lagos home on May 5.
In a temporary charge with number D/30/2016, Lekan was accused of beating his wife to death with his fist. The charge reads: “That you Shonde Olalekan, on May 5, 2016, at about 2030 hours at No. 3, Tiemo Street, Egbeda, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did kill one Ronke Shonde, ‘F’ age 37, by giving her fist blow on her head, and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.”
When he was asked if he understood the charge, he asked for the last paragraph to be re-read, after which he replied, “I didn’t kill her.” Prosecuting counsel Inspector Chinalu Uwadione applied that he be remanded in prison custody “to enable us send the case to the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) for legal advice.”
This was not opposed by defence counsel Mr. I. V. Mohammed, and Chief Magistrate Adelaja upheld Uwadione’s prayer. The case is adjourned till June 24, 2016.