An Abia
State High Court has sentenced a banker, Mr. Theophilus Ajakaiye, to death by
hanging for killing his wife, Theodora. The
convict allegedly murdered his wife on October 12, 2009 at Azumini Ndoki in the
Ukwa Judicial Division of Abia.
The charge
read, “The accused person is charged with one-count of murder contrary to
Section 319 (1) of the Criminal Code Vol. 11, Cap. 30 Laws of Eastern Nigeria,
1963, applicable in Abia State.” Until her
death, Theodora was an employee of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc.
The legal
battle between the deceased’s family and the accused began soon after the
alleged killing until the judgment recently.
The
Presiding Judge, Justice T.U. Uzokwe, said in his judgment that having heard
from the accused person, learned counsel for the accused and the prosecuting
counsel, the offence carried a mandatory sentence which is death.
He said
the court had no power to reduce the sentence and that being the case, he had
no option but to sentence the accused.
The judge
said, “Though the accused was not seen killing the deceased, I find that the
accumulated circumstantial facts found proved that the accused indeed murdered
his wife, Theodora Ajakaiye.
“Suffice
it to say that I find the accused guilty as charged and I convict him
accordingly.”
The
sentence read, “Theophilus Ajakaiye – The sentence of this court upon you is
that you be hanged by the neck until you be dead and may the merciful Lord have
mercy on your soul.”
In the
allocutus, counsel for the accused pleaded for mercy on behalf of his client.
He said,
“I thank the court for this well considered judgment. The accused has no
criminal record. We plead for mercy. There are two children to the marriage and
they have already lost their mother.”
It was learnt that the convict had yet to appeal against the
judgment.
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