Funke Busari, Lagos
Two cousins Olamilekan (Goke) Oke 33 and Akande Adeyinka 27 have been remanded on Wednesday for their alleged roles in the rape and killing of one Bernadette Tohouo-Tohouo 44, the Hungarian wife of a Cameroonian, Gildas Tohouo-Tohouo, the managing director of Maersk Nigeria Limited.
The suspects Olamilekan (Goke) Oke and Akande Adeyinka were remanded following their not guilty plea before Justice Modupe Nico-Clay of a Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere.
The defendants are facing eight count charge bordering on conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, unlawful assault, robbery, armed robbery and rape, preferred against them by Lagos state government.
Prosecuting counsel and Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo SAN, who led the Director of Public Prosecution DPP, Mrs Adeyinka Adeyemi, told the court that the defendants conspired to commit the alleged offences on December 8, 2019.
Onigbanjo SAN said that the incident took place at about 7:30 p.m, at Flat 7A, No 1, Lugard Avenue Ikoyi Lagos, adding that “Olamilekan (Goke ) Oke, on December 8, 2019, at about 7: 30 p.m, unlawfully had sexual intercourse with fourty-four year old Bernadetta Tohouo-Tohouo.
The prosecutor further informed the court that the defendants unlawfully killed the victim by suffocating her to death with a small pillow.
The prosecutor also said that the duo attempted to unlawfully kill one Gildas Tohouo-Tohouo, by stabbing him severally on the neck, head and back with a knife and dagger.
Onigbanjo said that the defendants unlawfully assaulted Gildas Tohouo-Tohouo and caused him harm, by beating him severally with hammer on his head.
The Commissioner of Justice explained to the court that the defendants whilst armed with a knife and dagger robbed one Gildas Tohouo-Tohouo and Bernadette Tohouo- Tohouo, of several properties including foreign currencies in different denominations.
Two iphones, two bottles of wine, two wedding rings and one engagement ring were also said to be carted away.
But the defendants who are technician and printer respectively denied the charge against them.
The first defendant was represented by a counsel A.O. Odusanya, from the Office of the Public Defender OPD, while Mrs L.Y. Salau and I. T. Akingbade, from Legal Aid Council LAC, appeared for the second defendant.
Onigbanjo further urged the court for a date to commence trial.
Justice Nico-Clay, adjourned the case till June 30, for trial.
