Ikeja High Court Acquits Ikechukwu Ogbonna (IVD) of Criminal Charges in Wife’s Death
The Ikeja High Court, Lagos State, has discharged and acquitted Ikechukwu Ogbonna (popularly known as IVD) of all criminal charges relating to the death of his wife, Bimbo Ogbonna, after holding that the prosecution failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Delivering judgment, Justice Modupe Nico‑Clay dismissed the three‑count charge of involuntary manslaughter, causing death by threats and intimidation, and domestic violence brought against the defendant by the Lagos State Government.
The prosecution, led by Mrs T. Olanrewaju‑Daud, alleged that Ogbonna pushed his wife into a fire during a domestic dispute, failed to rescue her, and subjected her to prolonged abuse. The charges were framed under Sections 224, 217, and 19(1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Nine witnesses and 13 exhibits, including video recordings and medical reports, were tendered. Key witnesses (PW1–PW3) testified to a history of domestic violence but admitted under cross‑examination that they were not present at the scene and could not authenticate video evidence.
The defence called four witnesses, including Odiche Loveth Obiejekwe (DW4), a former house help and the only eyewitness. DW4 testified that the deceased poured fuel on herself and set herself ablaze after a quarrel over school fees, while the defendant attempted to rescue her. This account was corroborated by a police interim report tendered in evidence.
Justice Nico‑Clay held that the prosecution’s evidence was largely hearsay and speculative, lacking direct proof of unlawful acts by the defendant and medical evidence from Evercare Hospital indicated mental health challenges and psychoactive substances in the deceased’s system, contradicting parts of the oral testimony.
Forensic analysis revealed that some video clips tendered had been modified and lacked authentication and the domestic violence charge under the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act, 2015 was incompetent, as the Act applies only in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), not Lagos State.
While dismissing the discharges, on manslaughter, the court found no evidence that the defendant pushed the deceased into fire or failed to act. On causing death by threats/intimidation, the court held that no direct threats were proven. On domestic violence, the court ruled that no eyewitness evidence of physical abuse was presented, and the video exhibits were inadmissible under the Evidence Act.
Justice Nico‑Clay concluded: “The prosecution failed to establish any unlawful or dangerous act by the defendant that caused the death of the deceased.”
Accordingly, the court discharged and acquitted Ikechukwu Ogbonna on all counts, and ordered the immediate release of his international passport and other seized documents.
