Lagos State Police Command on Monday told an Ikeja High Court that Abimbola Ogbonna, the late wife of the celebrity auto dealer Ikechukwu Ogbonna aka IVD, accused him of threatening her life before her death.
DSP Fetuga Olatunji told Justice Modupe Nicole-Clay that Mrs Ogbonna, before her death, wrote a petition to the Nigeria Police Force, Zone 2 Headquarters, Onikan, Lagos, against her husband.
IVD is facing charges of involuntary manslaughter before the court. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Olatunji was led in evidence by the counsel to Lagos State Government, Adeshola Bello.
Olatunji testified that Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of the zone had directed his team to investigate the case.
“The AIG gave a directive to effect the arrest of the defendant (Ikechukwu) for attempted murder, threat to life, domestic violence and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.
“When we learnt that the matter was reported at the Ajah Police Station, a signal was sent that both the case file and the suspect should be transferred to the zonal headquarters.
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“My team obtained a statement from Abimbola’s mother because she (Abimbola) was not in a good state of health.
“However, two days later, while we were waiting for the case file alongside the suspect to be brought to Zone 2, information came that Abimbola had died.
“At that point, the AIG ordered that the matter should be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department Panti, for proper investigation,” he said.
During cross-examination by counsel to the defendant, Victor Ogunde (SAN), the witness said, “The reason we didn’t have a report is because the investigation on the case was not concluded by us.”
Nicole-Clay admitted in evidence, a number of documents tendered by the prosecution which includes a certified true copy of the petition and a copy of the signal to the Ajah Police Station.