SATURDAY, June 22,2013, will for a long time remain indelible in
the memory of Godwin Olah, 37, following an incident that claimed the life of
his 28- year-old wife, Stella, during a row with a neighbour identified
as Stella Omoigiafo Gilbert (31). The suspect, a mother of one, allegedly
pierced the heart of the deceased, a mother of three aged between six and
three, with a knife after a scuffle in their compound.
the memory of Godwin Olah, 37, following an incident that claimed the life of
his 28- year-old wife, Stella, during a row with a neighbour identified
as Stella Omoigiafo Gilbert (31). The suspect, a mother of one, allegedly
pierced the heart of the deceased, a mother of three aged between six and
three, with a knife after a scuffle in their compound.
The grieving husband of the deceased who hails from Obudu local
Government Area of Cross River State, Godwin, told Crime Alert at their number
59, Ojora Street, Ajegunle, Lagos residence that the suspect also inflicted
severe injuries on his wife’s hand before piercing her heart resulting to her
death. Amidst tears, he narrated his ordeal since the untimely death of his
wife.
Government Area of Cross River State, Godwin, told Crime Alert at their number
59, Ojora Street, Ajegunle, Lagos residence that the suspect also inflicted
severe injuries on his wife’s hand before piercing her heart resulting to her
death. Amidst tears, he narrated his ordeal since the untimely death of his
wife.
His story: ”It happened that on June 22, 2013, at about 6pm, one
of my sisters came calling on us. I decided to carry one small bench at the
front of a neighbour’s house for the visitor to sit inside our room.
Immediately, Stella, our neighbour, rushed out of her room and accosted me,
asking why I should carry the bench inside. The owner of the bench, on hearing
our argument, came out and asked her to let us be, but she refused, instead she
went inside, brought out hot water and poured on us. I reasoned that if I engage
in a fight with her, it might result to some serious consequences, so, I went
to the police station at Ajaromi and reported the case.
of my sisters came calling on us. I decided to carry one small bench at the
front of a neighbour’s house for the visitor to sit inside our room.
Immediately, Stella, our neighbour, rushed out of her room and accosted me,
asking why I should carry the bench inside. The owner of the bench, on hearing
our argument, came out and asked her to let us be, but she refused, instead she
went inside, brought out hot water and poured on us. I reasoned that if I engage
in a fight with her, it might result to some serious consequences, so, I went
to the police station at Ajaromi and reported the case.
–
“On getting back to the house, I saw my wife lying on the
corridor in front of our room. I shook her but no response came from her, and
the lady that engaged her in a fight was nowhere to be found. Hence, I went
back to the station the second time to report of her death. The Police sent an
officer to accompany me and see things for herself. The officer came, saw
the lifeless body of my wife on the corridor and we went back to the station
where she made her report.
corridor in front of our room. I shook her but no response came from her, and
the lady that engaged her in a fight was nowhere to be found. Hence, I went
back to the station the second time to report of her death. The Police sent an
officer to accompany me and see things for herself. The officer came, saw
the lifeless body of my wife on the corridor and we went back to the station
where she made her report.
The Police also requested that I get a report from the General
Hospital here in Ajegunle. I took the body of my wife there and she was
confirmed dead on arrival. There after, with the help of some good Samaritans
around, I took her body to the Naval hospital mortuary, but she was rejected
because we did not go with a police report. I brought her back and laid
her on the floor in our room until the next morning.
Hospital here in Ajegunle. I took the body of my wife there and she was
confirmed dead on arrival. There after, with the help of some good Samaritans
around, I took her body to the Naval hospital mortuary, but she was rejected
because we did not go with a police report. I brought her back and laid
her on the floor in our room until the next morning.
Then, I went back to the police station and was given a police
van to convey her to Lagos Island mortuary. She has been at the morgue for a
month and three days now. Since then, our children have been sleeping at their
aunt’s house, I go there every night to pass the night with them because they
can’t sleep if I am not there with them.”
van to convey her to Lagos Island mortuary. She has been at the morgue for a
month and three days now. Since then, our children have been sleeping at their
aunt’s house, I go there every night to pass the night with them because they
can’t sleep if I am not there with them.”
Crime Alert gathered from an eye witness that after the accused
poured hot water on Godwin Olah and his visiting sister, his wife went to her
room to accost her on why she should treat her husband and sister in-law in
such manner, a fight ensued between both women and in the process, the accused
tried to drag the deceased to the stove where she was cooking to burn her, but
when she discovered she could not drag Stella Godwin (the deceased) to the
fire, she brought out a knife and pierced through her right arm and her heart.
poured hot water on Godwin Olah and his visiting sister, his wife went to her
room to accost her on why she should treat her husband and sister in-law in
such manner, a fight ensued between both women and in the process, the accused
tried to drag the deceased to the stove where she was cooking to burn her, but
when she discovered she could not drag Stella Godwin (the deceased) to the
fire, she brought out a knife and pierced through her right arm and her heart.
“Stella died as a result of the knife wound on her heart; the
fight was so fierce that we all took off, returning only to see Stella Godwin
lying in a pool of her blood on the corridor in front of their room,” the eye
witness said.
fight was so fierce that we all took off, returning only to see Stella Godwin
lying in a pool of her blood on the corridor in front of their room,” the eye
witness said.
Another neighbour also told Crime Alert on condition of
anonymity that there have been a no- love -lost relationship between the two
neighbours. “Before that incident, both neighbours had lived like cat and rat
in this compound. They quarrelled at the slightest misunderstanding. I wish they
listened to us, this would have been averted.”
anonymity that there have been a no- love -lost relationship between the two
neighbours. “Before that incident, both neighbours had lived like cat and rat
in this compound. They quarrelled at the slightest misunderstanding. I wish they
listened to us, this would have been averted.”
Genesis: Tracing the genesis of the quarrel between his family
and the suspect, the husband of the victim also said he fell out with the
accused who also shared the same first name (Stella) with his deceased wife,
after he prevented her from using a knife on her (the suspect) sister during a
scuffle. “I have lived in this compound for 20 years now. I was here when she
rented her room. We lived as good neighbours, she was best of friends with my
wife. It wasl the day I stopped the lady from using a knife to inflict injuries
on her sister during a fight that she saw me, my wife and our children as
enemies, “ he stated.
and the suspect, the husband of the victim also said he fell out with the
accused who also shared the same first name (Stella) with his deceased wife,
after he prevented her from using a knife on her (the suspect) sister during a
scuffle. “I have lived in this compound for 20 years now. I was here when she
rented her room. We lived as good neighbours, she was best of friends with my
wife. It wasl the day I stopped the lady from using a knife to inflict injuries
on her sister during a fight that she saw me, my wife and our children as
enemies, “ he stated.
It was gathered that the body of the deceased has been conveyed
to her home town in Obudu- Akwa-Ibom state for burial; while the accused Stella
Omoigiafo Gilbert was remanded in prison custody after she was arraigned at the
magistrate court in Ebute Metta.
to her home town in Obudu- Akwa-Ibom state for burial; while the accused Stella
Omoigiafo Gilbert was remanded in prison custody after she was arraigned at the
magistrate court in Ebute Metta.
Source: Vanguard
