Accused Wife Murderer, Akolade Arowolo Slumps In Court

Inspector Benson Ajie, a police witness in the on-going trial of Mr. Akolade Arowolo, accused of killing his banker-wife, Titilayo Arowolo, yesterday, disclosed to an Ikeja High Court that he indeed, struggled with his wife while armed with a knife, which led to the injury he sustained.

However, the continuation of the evidence of the witnesses ended suddenly when the accused person slumped in court, before he was resuscitated outside the court room.
Akolade was noted to have slumped by his counsel, Mr. Olanrewaju Ajanaku, while he was to show him a document inside the dock.

This led to Justice Lateefa Okunnu to stand down the case, but he (accused) was never brought back to the court. After about an hour, he was helped to the waiting prison bus which took him out of the court premises.
Earlier, the police prosecution witness, who was led in evidence by the state Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, Mrs. Olabisi Ogungbesan, told the court that while investigating the circumstances leading to the murder of the Titilayo, the accused told him that he and Titilayo struggled with a knife and this was responsible for the wounds he had at the time.

Ajie also told the court that Akolade informed him that he jumped from the balcony of their house down to the floor on the day of the incident and this was responsible for why he was limping.
The 31-year-old Akolade was accused of stabbing Titilayo, his wife to death at their residence at 8, Akindeinde Street, Isolo, Lagos, exactly a year ago.

The police officer further stated that on examination, Akolade had some deep open wounds on his palm and navel area, which informed his decision to take him to two hospitals, the police clinic at Panti and Falomo Police Hospital for treatment.
He added that Akolade made three statements while he was being interrogated on June 27, June 30 and July 4, 2012 respectively which were admitted as exhibits P48 – P50.
He also tendered a letter of authority appended by Akolade to release his car to his father, which was also admitted as Exhibit 51.

Apart from this he mentioned that  he took Akolade to the Chief Pathologist at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Prof. John Obafunwa for tests before he was finally arraigned at the Ikeja magistrate Court on July 8, 2011.
Under  cross examination by Mr. Ajanaku, Akolade’s counsel, Inspector Ajei said that he is not in the position to determine whether Akolade’s pictures and that of his wounds should be taken during investigations.

Another prosecution witness, Sergeant Bayern Cletus, an Investigating Police Officer attached to the matter at Aswani Police Station also testified before the court. He stated that he was at the house on the day and he was called for the case, and on arrival at the deceased home he met the corpse on the bed face up.
He added that she was in a pool of blood with a deep cut on her breast and stab wounds on her right eye as well as several bruises on her face and neck, adding that the whole apartment was very rough and scattered.
He couldn’t conclude his evidence because of the sudden sickness of the accused.
Further hearing of the case was fixed for June 28, 2012.