A Magistrate’s court in Ebute Meta, Lagos, has ordered the remand of auto dealer Ikechukwu Daryl Ogbonna, aka IVD, over the death of his wife, Abimbola Martins-Ogbonna.
The court Magistrate, Adebayo Kafayat Tella, made the order following advice by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Lagos State, which indicted Ogbonna for involuntary manslaughter.
Reading out the DPP advice, Mrs. Tella said the defendant should be arraigned before the Lagos High Court.
The defense counsel, Abubakar Yesufu, however prayed the court to release the defendant based on earlier bail conditions granted him.
But Magistrate Tella held that she lacked the jurisdiction to entertain a case of involuntary manslaughter, hence all bail applications should be presented before the high court.
She adjourned till 7 March, 2023.
Bimbo sustained injuries in a fire incident after a dispute with IVD in their residence in Megamound Estate, Lekki on 15 October, 2022.
She was rushed to a hospital where she died as a result of the injuries she sustained.
IVD was arrested by the Lagos State Police Command and transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba.
The couple have been in the news in recent years over domestic violence; several videos of them are on the internet.
In May 2019, Bimbo regained consciousness after she was allegedly beaten to a coma by IVD during pregnancy.
In October 2020, the businessman shared a video of him reconciling with his spouse after she narrated her sufferings.
IVD and Bimbo were together for about two decades. The marriage produced five children.
The couple had been married for 16 years, with five children.
The marriage, however, was fraught with disagreement and alleged domestic violence.
It was gathered that the deceased had confronted IVD over alleged repeated assault and maltreatment.
The fight resulted in their house being set ablaze. While IVD escaped with minor burns, Bimbo was not so lucky.
