A High Court in Lagos, presided over by Justice Sherifat Sonaike at Tafawa Balewa Square, has sentenced Benjamin Ogudoro to death by hanging for the brutal murder of his wife, Chinyere Ogudoro, and her brother, Ifeanyi Joseph, in April 2022.
The court found Ogudoro guilty of setting both victims on fire while they slept in their home in Abule Ado, Lagos, following a heated domestic dispute.
Delivering the judgment on Thursday, February Justice Sonaike ruled that the prosecution had proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Ogundero deliberately planned and executed the attack.
Describing the act as “wickedness of the highest order,” the judge condemned his actions as one of the most heinous crimes a person could commit.
The prosecution team, led by Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Mr. Martins Babajide, argued that Ogudoro’s anger stemmed from the fact that his wife owned the house they lived in, which she had purchased while working in the banking sector.
This anger, the prosecution claimed, was a key factor in his decision to commit the crime.
Witnesses described the horrific scene, with one testifying that Chinyere’s body was so badly burned that her limbs fell off. Ifeanyi Joseph died from severe burns that caused his body to stop circulating blood.
It was gathered that a neighbor also testified to seeing Ogudoro fleeing the burning house with a fuel gallon, further solidifying his involvement in the crime.
Throughout the trial, Ogudoro showed no remorse for his actions. Justice Sonaike stated that the evidence clearly demonstrated his guilt, and he deserved the maximum punishment. The court found him guilty on four counts of murder and arson.
“For the charge of murder, Benjamin Ogudoro, the sentence of this court is that you shall be hanged by the neck until you die,” Justice Sonaike ruled.
For the charge of arson, the court sentenced him to life imprisonment, effective from the date of his conviction.
Ogundero, who is in his 50s, was arraigned on December 7, 2022, on a four-count charge of murder by the Lagos State Government.
He was accused of killing his wife, Chinyere, who had recently returned from Scotland, and her brother, Ifeanyi, by setting them ablaze.
The incident occurred on April 1, 2022, around 3:30 a.m., at House 5, Zone 7, Oteyi Garden Estate, Abule Ado, in Amuwo Odofin LGA.
The prosecution alleged that Ogudoro poured petrol on his wife, her brother, and their mattress before setting them on fire while they slept, leading to their deaths.