Gbenro Adesina
The Lagos State Government, on Wednesday, arraigned Olamilekan Adegoke and Akande Adeyinka, for allegedly killing the Hungarian 44-year-old wife of the Managing Director of Maersk Nigeria Limited, Bernadetta Tohouo-Tohouo.
Adegoke, 33, of No. 22, Elepe St., Ikorodu and Adeyinka, 27, of No.12, Odunlami St., Shomolu respectively, who are cousins, were arraigned before Justice Modupe Nico-Clay at the Lagos State High Court in Igbosere on an eight counts charge bordering on conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, unlawful assault, robbery, armed robbery and rape.
The Lagos State Prosecutor, Moyosore Onigbanjo, who is the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, had told the court that the defendants conspired and committed the offences on December 8, 2019, at 7:30 p.m. at Flat 7A, No.1, Lugard Avenue, Ikoyi, Lagos.
It was alleged that the duo attacked the Managing Director of Maersk Nigeria Limited, Gildas Tohouo-Tohouo, and stabbed his wife, Bernadette, to death at their residence.
At Wednesday’s proceedings, the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), told the court that Adegoke had unlawful sexual intercourse with the deceased before she was killed.
He said, “The defendants unlawfully killed Bernadette by suffocating her with a small pillow and attempted to unlawfully kill Gildas by stabbing him several times in the neck, head and back with a knife and dagger.
“The defendants unlawfully assaulted and caused him harm by beating him with a hammer on his head and while armed with a knife and dagger, robbed the couple of several property, including foreign currencies in different denominations, two iPhones, two bottles of wine, two wedding rings and one engagement ring.”
Onigbanjo told the court that the offences were contrary to and punishable under sections 233, 230, 173, 299, 297 (2) (a) 411, of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State of Nigeria 2015.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The first defendant, Adegoke, was represented by a counsel, A.O. Odusanya, from the Office of the Public Defender (OPD), while L.Y. Salau and I. T. Akingbade, from Legal Aid Council, appeared for the second defendant, Adeyinka.
Justice Nicole-Clay adjourned the case till June 30, 2020, for trial and ordered that the defendants be remanded in the Ikoyi Correctional Centre.
