The Judge in addition to the death sentence, also found the man guilty of arson and sentenced him to life imprisonment
By Kehinde Okeowo
A High Court located in Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos State has sentenced a man identified as Benjamin Ogundero to death by hanging for the gruesome murder of his wife, Chinyere Ogundero, and her brother, Ifeanyi Joseph.
Justice Sherifat Sonaike found Ogundero guilty of setting both victims on fire while they slept in their home in Abule Ado, Lagos, after a heated domestic dispute in April 2022.
The prosecution team, led by Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Mr. Martins Babajide, had earlier argued that the man had been angry over the fact that his wife owned the house they lived in, which she had purchased while working in the banking sector.
This anger, it was said, 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. while her brother, Ifeanyi Joseph died from severe burns that caused his body to stop circulating blood.
The court also heard from a neighbor who saw Ogundero running from the burning house with a fuel gallon, further solidifying his involvement in the crime.
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Benjamin Ogundero’s actions were deemed to be driven by personal grievances and anger, with the court finding no remorse throughout the trial.
Delivering the judgment on Thursday, February 27, 2025, Justice Sonaike ruled that the prosecution had proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Ogundero deliberately planned and carried out 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.
During the court proceedings, Justice Sonaike emphasized that the evidence presented proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Ogundero committed the heinous act.
“He devised, prepared, and executed the act. This is wickedness of the highest order,” the judge stated, condemning the defendant’s actions as one of the worst a person could inflict upon another.
In addition to the murder charge, Ogundero was found guilty of arson and sentenced to life imprisonment, which will start from the date of conviction.
