Lagos Murder Case: Women Arise, CEE-HOPE Seek Justice For Murdered Engineer

Lagos Murder Case: Women Arise, CEE-HOPE Seek Justice For Murdered Engineer

Members of civil society groups; Women Arise and CEE-HOPE have staged a peaceful protest at the Ebute Metta Magistrate court to seek justice for the murdered engineer, Lawrence Idoko who was allegedly stabbed by his wife, Folashade in their Ijanikin, Lagos residence.

Lawrence Idoko, a 33-year old pipeline engineer with Greater Inspection and Industrial Services at Sango-Otta, Ogun State, was stabbed by his wife at their residence, 20, Kosoko Street, Ayetoro, Ijanikin, Lagos State on August 20, 2017. He died of hemorrhage according to the corona’s report.

Folashade, a mother of two is a full-time housewife who reportedly trained as an auxiliary nurse. She was immediately arrested by men of the Lagos State Police Command, and has been charged to court for alleged murder.

Dr. Joe Okei Odumakin, President of Women Arise, a leading women’s rights campaign organisation and Betty Abah,  founder of CEE-HOPE,  a child/girl’s rights NGO, led a team of campaigners to the court on Monday October 30 to support the quest for justice for the victim.

“For men experiencing domestic violence, silence is no longer golden, speak up before it is too late. Violence against men in matrimonial setups and other intimate relationships on the increases and we must end this menance,” said Odumakin outside the court premises.

From reports by people in the Idoko’s neighbourhood and the victim’s family members, the mid-night killing (via a stab with a kitchen knife on Mr. Idoko’s leg which pierced a major vein) was a culmination of several years of savage attacks on Idoko by his wife, known to be temperamental and suspicious of every move by her husband.

According to reports, the last attack was triggered by an SMS which the late Idoko got and which his wife alleged must have come from a girlfriend.

Several neighbours, including the deceased’s landlord, Chief Gani Akanni,  who is the Balogun (traditional ruler) of Ayetoro, testified how the victim tolerated several physical attacks from his wife who was also known for fighting other neighbours and vandalizing properties at will. Chief Akanni also explained how he gave the couple quit notices a number of time owing the woman’s violent tendencies.

The victim has since been buried in his home town in Benue State after an autopsy was duly performed at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) while the wife remains in prison custody in Lagos.

Women Arise and CEE-HOPE promised to continue to pursue the fight to ensure justice for the deceased and his two surviving children aged 1 and 3.

The two organisations were at the Ebute-Metta magistrate court on October 30th when the case was brought before Magistrate K.  A.  Ariyo.
The case was however adjourned to December 4, 2017 to allow for legal advice from the Lagos State Department of Public Prosecution  (DPP) while the accused remains in prison custody.
The accused was represented by a lawyer,  F. I.  Effiong and the victim’s family by Barrister  Adeola Samuel Ilori, a lawyer and Human Rights activist.

According to the two organisations in a statement after the court hearing, they will campaign for continued highlighting of the need to project the voices of men who are victims of domestic violence, to call for an end to it, for victims to shun the culture of silence and tradition-induced stigma, speak up and escape harm before it is too late.

“We believe that injustice to one is injustice to all. We have no doubt that justice will be served in this case. Again, we believe that it will serve as a deterrence to persons who perpetuate gender -based violence be it men or women ‘, said CEE-HOPE ‘s Betty Abah.

‘We believe that just like women, men can also be victims of domestic violence. We stand for #JusticeForLawrence,” the statement added.