BREAKING: LAGOS COURT SENTENCES MAN TO DEATH OVER MURDER OF WIFE, BROTHER-IN-LAW

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By: Aishat Momoh

A Lagos court has sentenced Benjamin Ogundero to death by hanging for the brutal murder of his wife, Chinyere Ogundero, and her brother, Ifeanyi Joseph, in April 2022.

Ogundero was found guilty of setting his wife and brother-in-law on fire while they were sleeping in their home in the Abule Ado area of Lagos. The act occurred after a heated domestic quarrel, and it led to the tragic deaths of both victims.

During the court proceedings on Thursday February 27, 2025, 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 also found guilty of arson and sentenced to life imprisonment, which will start from the date of conviction.

The prosecution team, led by Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Mr. Martins Babajide, 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. 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.

Benjamin Ogundero’s actions were deemed to be driven by personal grievances and anger, with the court finding no remorse throughout the trial.

This sentencing marks a major conclusion in a case that shocked the public and highlights the extreme violence that can arise from domestic disputes.

More details later…..