Crime Highlight

Maersk MD’s wife’s murder: Two cousins remanded in prison

Per Second NewsJune 24, 2020414

Two cousins — Olamilekan Oke and Akande Adeyinka — have been remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre, Lagos, over alleged rape and murder of Bernadette Tohouo-Tohouo, the Hungarian wife of a Cameroonian, Gildas Tohouo-Tohouo, the Managing Director of Maersk Nigeria Ltd.

The duo of Oke, 33 and Adeyinka, 27, who resides at 22, Elepe St., Ikorodu and 12, Odunlami St., Shomolu were remanded by Justice Modupe Nico- Clay of a Lagos High Court sitting in Igbosere.

They are facing an eight-count charge bordering on conspiracy, murder, attempted murder, unlawful assault, robbery, armed robbery and rape.

The accused, who are technician and printer respectively pleaded not guilty.

The defendants conspired to commit the offences on December 8, 2019, according to the Lagos State Counsel, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, who led the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Mrs Adeyinka Adeyemi.

He said the incident took place at about 7:30pm, at flat 7A, No 1, Lugard Avenue Ikoyi, Lagos.

Onigbanjo alleged that Oke on December 8, 2019 at about 7.30pm raped 44-year-old Bernadetta Tohouo-Tohouo and suffocated her to death with a pillow.

Onigbanjo said the duo also attempted to unlawfully kill one Gildas Tohouo-Tohouo by stabbing him severally on the neck, head and back with a knife and dagger.

Onigbanjo told 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.

Others are two iphones, two bottles of wine, two wedding rings and one engagement ring.

The offences contravened Sections 233, 230, 173, 299, 297 (2) (a) 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.

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, appeared for the second defendant.

June 30 has been fixed for trial.