A Lagos State High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) has been told how the scream of a murder suspect, Benjamin Ogundoro, who allegedly burnt his wife and brother-in-law to death, alerted neighbours to the fire.

A prosecution witness, Mr Chijioke Okemie, revealed this during the ongoing trial of Ogundoro. Ogundoro, 50, was arraigned before Justice Sherifat Sonaike on December 7, 2022, on a four-count charge of murder preferred against him by the Lagos State government. He was alleged to have killed his wife, Chinyere, who had just returned from Scotland, and her brother, Ifeanyi Edoziem, by setting them ablaze.

The state alleged that the defendant poured petrol on the bodies of his wife and his brother-in-law, Ifeanyi, and the mattress and set them ablaze while asleep, which led to their death.

The prosecution said the incident occurred on April 1, 2022, at about 3.30 a.m., at House 5, Zone 7, Oteyi Garden Estate, Abule Ado, in the Amuwo Odofin area of Lagos State.

According to the prosecution, the offences committed contravened Sections 223 and 341 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015. However, the defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge against him and the trial commenced immediately.

Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Dr Babajide Martins, represented the prosecutor while Mr Ogbogu Ubaka stood for the defence. At the resumed trial, the witness, Mr Okemie, a neighbour to the defendant, said: “I heard somebody shouting help help. I jumped up from my bed, looked from the window of my parlour, and I saw fire coming from Mr Ben’s house.

“On getting to the apartment, I saw someone lying beside the door, other people were inside. Immediately, I and other neighbours that gathered took steps to put out the fire.

“I saw the late Ifeanyi who was shouting, ‘It is my sister o!’ Later, I asked where Mr Ben was, and people said he shouted, ‘Help! Help!’ before he collapsed and was rushed to the hospital.”

During cross examination by the prosecuting counsel, the witness stated that he could not ascertain the cause of the fire and was not a member of the fire brigade, neither was he trained to put out fire.

The witness also stated that when he noticed the fire at about 12:00 a.m, he did not call the police, neither did he report the incident at the police station. After taking his testimony, the court adjourned till August 5, for continuation of trial.