Three weeks after the tragic death of his wife Ronke, Lekan Shonde, appeared before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Friday for allegedly beating her to death.
The arraignment coincides with the burial of Ronke at the Atan Cemetery, Yaba.
Shonde, a dock worker in the Apapa area and resident of Egbeda-Idimu, a Lagos suburb, was arraigned on a one-count charge of murder.
His plea was not taken.
The Prosecutor, Inspector Chinalu Uwadione, had told the court that the alleged offence was committed at about 2.30pm at the accused residence, 3, Tiemo Street, Egbeda, on May 5.
Uwadione said the accused beat Ronke, 37, to death.
He said the accused after beating up his wife, absconded to an unknown area before he was apprehended by the police.
Uwadione said the offence contravened Sections 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011, which on conviction attracts life imprisonment.
The Magistrate, Oluyemisi Adelaja, ordered that the accused should be remanded at the Ikoyi Prisons for 30 days, pending an advice from the state’s Director of Public Prosecutions.
Adelaja adjourned the case till June 24 for mention.
Ronke’s burial was witnessed by few family members and friends.