Ajirioghene Imah
Popular auto dealer, Ikechukwu Ogbonna, aka IVD, has pleaded not guilty before a Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja for the alleged manslaughter of his late wife, Abimbola Martins.
Ogbonna has been arraigned for the alleged manslaughter of his late wife who passed away after suffering fatal burns in a fire incident at her Lekki residence in Lagos State.
The 37year old defendant has been charged with one count of involuntary manslaughter in suit No LD/21055C/23 by the Lagos State Government.
However, the prosecuting counsel, Adeshola Bello, told the court that there was a mix-up in the date the alleged offence was committed.
“We have on record October 10 but the date was October 12,” he said.
Bello also said that the alleged offence committed contravened Section 229 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
However, Ogbonna who was arraigned before Modupe Nicole-Clay pleaded not guilty to the charge against him.
The defense counsel, Mr Victor Ogunde, SAN, sought bail for the defendant.
While seeking bail for the defendant, the judge asked why he was bringing a bail application despite the fact that the defendant was on bail since March 1.
The defense counsel replied that the suit against his client was with a different charge number.
Consequently, Justice Nicole-Clay adjourned the case till March 30, May 24 and 25, 2023, for the commencement of trial.
Recall that the media went agog when the news of Abimbola’s passing on October 12, 2022, became public knowledge.