Death sentence in Naija? Abia Big Boy Sentence To Death For Killing His Banker Wife

For killing his wife, a staff of Guarnaty Trust Bank, under 'controversial circumstances' in their home, an Abia State big boy, who works in one of the big banks in the state, have been sentenced to death by hanging.
OluFamous.Com gathered that the man, identified as Theophilus Akajakaiye allegedly murdered his wife, the late Theodora, on October 12, 2009 at Azumini Ndoki, in Ukwa...


A serious legal battle between the deceased’s family and the accused began soon after the alleged killing until the judgment was finally delivered recently.
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.”

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 Theophilus Akajakaiye to death.

The judge said, “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 death 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.”

But in the allocutus, counsel for the convict pleaded for mercy for 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.”