Husband Sentenced to Death for Burning Wife, Brother-in-Law Alive

NIGERIA – Benjamin Ogudoro(53) was sentenced to death by hanging yesterday at the Lagos State High Court for murdering his wife, Chinyere Ogudoro (46) a mother of four and her brother, Ifeanyi Edoziem, by setting them on fire while they slept at their Lagos home on April 1, 2022.

The incident occurred in the early hours of the morning at the couple’s residence in Lagos, reportedly fueled by Ogudoro’s jealousy and resentment towards his wife’s business success and ownership of their home.

According to court testimony, Ogudoro’s wife had relocated to Scotland in 2017, where she earned a master’s degree in international business management from Glasgow Caledonian University. She established her own management consulting business in Glasgow before returning to Nigeria.

Ogudoro claimed the fire was accidental, but Justice Serifat Sonaike ruled that the prosecution had proven beyond a reasonable doubt that Ogudoro deliberately planned and carried out the attack, describing his actions as “wickedness of the highest order.”

Ogudoro had testified that he was upset because his wife owned the home they shared and was jealous of her business career. When Mrs. Ogudoro learned that her husband intended to sell the family house without her consent, she went back to talk to him.

The victims’ sister, Uche Uwalaka, testified on behalf of the prosecution, stating that their mother had passed away due to the anguish of losing two of her children on the same day.

“I am pleading for justice because of the pain of losing my siblings to the actions of the defendant,” she said.

Mrs. Ogudoro died at the scene of the incident, while her younger brother died later in hospital. Before his death, he gave a dying declaration to police alleging that his brother-in-law was responsible.

Ogudoro claimed he discovered the fire after returning home from a bar and had tried to save his wife and brother-in-law. However, his account was disputed by the prosecution.

Glasgow Caledonian University paid tribute to Mrs. Ogudoro at the time of her death. Dr. Colin Combe, of the Department of Business Management, said, “I am very shocked and saddened to hear of the tragic death of Chinyere,she will be missed by all who knew her and I send my heartfelt condolences to her family and friends.”