2nd October, 2013
A Nigerian high court in Ikeja, capital of Lagos state has fixed Oct. 23 for judgment in the case of a couple, Elochukwu and Chiamaka Nnajiofor, accused of murdering their 14-year-old housemaid.
Justice Lateefat Okunnu fixed the date on Wednesday after the adoption of the final written addresses by the prosecution and the defence.
The defendants were charged to court on Sept. 22, 2011 on a one-count charge of murder.
The accused pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Mr Femi Adamson, claimed that Chiamaka tortured the housemaid, Oliver Arakwe, to death for allegedly “misbehaving”.
Adamson had alleged that the torture took place at 81, Femi Tella St., Ago Palace, Okota, Lagos, where the deceased was residing with the couple.
The prosecutor alleged that the incident had led to Arakwe’s death on Aug.17, 2010, at the Eko Hospital, Surulere, Lagos.
Adopting the final written address on Wednesday, Adamson said that the prosecution had proven its case against the defendants.
“The court should find the defendants guilty as charged,” he said.
However, counsel to the defendants, Mr Israel Samuel, in his final written address, urged the court to discharge his clients.
Samuel said the prosecution had failed to prove the charge of murder preferred against the defendants.
He said Arakwe was suffering from diarrhoea and later died, despite the treatment administered on her at the hospital.