Kemisola Oye
A Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has 30th March for the trial of popular auto dealer, Mr. Ikechukwu Ogbonna, 37, (alias IVD), the husband of late Abimbola Ogbonna, 35, who died at Lekki, in a fire incident.
Justice Modupe Nicole-Clay adjourned to this date for the commencement of trial after the defendant was arraigned on Monday.
At his arraignment, the defendant pleaded not guilty to a one-count charge of involuntary manslaughter in suit No LD/21055C/23, brought against him by the Lagos State Government.
The defendant was alleged to have committed the offence contrary to Section 229 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.
Addressing the court earlier today, State Counsel, Adeshola Bello, informed the court that the business of the day was the arraignment of the defendant.
The court registrar read the charge to the defendant, which he pleaded not guilty to.
Adeshola thereafter also informed the court that: “There is a mix-up in the date of which the alleged offence was committed. We have on record 10th October but the date was 12th October.”
She, therefore, sought the indulgence of the court to effect an amendment, a request the court granted.
The defence counsel, Mr.Victor Ogunde (SAN) applied for bail for the defendant.
On why he filed another bail application although the defendant has been on bail since 1st March, the defence counsel told the court that the instant suit against his client was with a different number.
Justice Nicole-Clay thereafter adjourned till 30th March, 24th and 25th May 2023 for commencement of trial.
Recall that the media went agog with the news of the late Mrs. Abimbola Ogbonna was said to have died as a result of a fire incident that occurred in the couple’s home on the 12th day of October 2022. The internet has since then been replete with different versions of the stories that resulted in the death of Abimbola mostly as painted by the husband, Mr. Ogbonna.
- Eighteen-Eleven Media