A Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, has set 7th July, 2022, for delivering its judgement in the trial of a couple, Fortune and Stephen Nwankwo, who were accused of the murder of their housemaid, Joy Adole, in Bariga area of the state.
The couple’s eight-count criminal charge in a court presiding over by Justice Oyindamola Ogala is bordering on conspiracy, involuntary manslaughter and accessory after the fact to murder.
They were accused of killing 19-year-old Adole on April 20, 2020, at their residence located at 18, Ogundola Street, Bariga, Lagos.
The couple, however, denied the allegation, claiming that Adole committed suicide by hanging herself in her bedroom.
Upon their non guilty plea, the State Directorate of Public Prosecution, DPP, commenced trial and called eight witnesses to prove the case against the couple.
The couple thereafter filed no case submission upon closing of prosecution case on October 12, 2021.
However the court turned down the application on November 24, 2021 for lack of merit and asked the couple to open their defence.
In their defence on January 17, 2022, the couple told the court that the day that preceded the incident, Joy was caught with noodles and was beaten because she was fond of stealing foodstuffs at home.
The wife also stated that the deceased denied stealing the foodstuffs but bought them with her money.
Fortune also told the court that after the incident, she had a discussion with the Joy and she apologized and agreed not to do that again and when she asked what she will have for dinner, she said she was not eating till the next day.
“The following morning, I called her while in the kitchen but there was no response, so I went into her room and when I opened the door, I saw her hanging on the ceiling. I screamed and called my husband and told him in our dialect that Joy has killed herself, he screamed too.
“I called one of our neighbours to come and see what happened and after then, my husband put a call to his father and he later went to the police station to report the incident. I was also asked to report at the station and give statements. The police detained me and while in the detention, my DNA, thumbprint, and blood sample were taken.
I was later remanded at Kirikiri prison,” she said.
At today’s proceedings, both the prosecutor and defence team adopted their final written addresses.
The judge thereafter adjourned for judgement.
