The family of the murdered banker, Mrs Titilayo Arowolo (nee Oyakhire), who was allegedly killed by her husband, Kolade, has said they are awaiting the autopsy report before deciding on the next action to take on the matter.

They however faulted the preliminary investigations by the police.

Titilayo, 29, a former member of staff of Skye Bank and a graduate of the Ambrose Ali University, Edo State was allegedly murdered in cold blood on June 24, by her husband following several and serious mutilation by the husband.

The dastardly act of the suspect on his wife and mother of his only daughter remained a bitter pill for the family of the deceased to swallow.

When THISDAY visited the Oyakhires at their Ifako home in the outskirts of Lagos, the strains of such sudden loss was very visible on the faces and candour of the parents.

The father of the deceased, Mr. George Oyakhire, a Kano-based senior officer of the Nigeria Customs Service had since relocated to Lagos to get the full details of the tragic incident.

Although he could not talk to the press, THISDAY gathered that the family was yet to make the burial plans for the late Titilayo because the autopsy report had not yet been released by the hospital.

The family sought for solitude to mourn their late daughter and so directed all enquiries to the family’s spokesman who also doubles as their lawyer, Mr. Nelson Ekoh

Ekoh explained that given the picture of the deceased, only a depraved mind could perpetuate such a dastardly act on a human being, let alone his wife.

While admitting that he could not vouch for what transpired between the couple, he alleged that the suspect wanted to use the deceased for ritual purposes.

To buttress his point, Ekoh said after the corpse had been discovered at the couple's residence at 8, Akindehinde Street, Isolo, a suburb in Lagos, Titilayo's internal organs were found on the floor.

Also inferring the violent nature of her death, he said her eyes were almost gorged out; not counting the several times she was stabbed.

At the last count, he said there were about 20 knife stabs on her head and face alone not counting several other stabs on other parts of her body.

According to him, "From what we gathered, Akolade used two knives and a hammer to kill Titilayo. One knife broke in her neck while the other one was left near her corpse. I believe he pinned her down to the floor and stabbed her to death after which he took out some of her internal organs.”

He however faulted Aswani Police Station which formerly handled the investigation which he said was bungled, adding that the Lagos State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Homicide Section, Panti was doing a better job.

In a petition addressed to the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Yakubu Alkali, titled “Material concealment in the whereabouts of a murder suspect immediately act was committed”, dated 28th of June, 2011; the family demanded the seizure of the entry evidencing recovery of the Akolade’s car from the IPO.

The daughter of the couple was in the family home of the murdered lady at the time of the incident.

The family however confirmed being aware of the domestic violence and abuses their daughter had had in the marriage.


http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/family-of-murdered-banker-faults-police-investigation/94410/