01/05/2025
*Mother of Four Sentenced to Death for Allegedly Setting Husband of 26 Years Ablaze; She Maintains Her Innocence*
One of our sisters visited a prison for a special visitation and met a woman serving a life sentence. This woman was Commutted to life imprisonment from death row last year by the Executive Governor of Ogun State, who acted with magnanimity. She shared her claims of innocence with us, groaning in pain as she did so. According to this mother of eight (four of whom are surviving) and the breadwinner of her family, she was accused of sprinkling and setting ablaze her husband of 26 years, the father of her four surviving children, on October 21, 2014. He was sentenced to death on July 5, 2018.
However, the woman insists that her husband died mysteriously in a fire incident on the morning of that date while she was feeding her chickens in the backyard. Her husband ran out engulfed in flames, and she managed to extinguish the fire and called for help from neighbors, who rushed him to the hospital. Unfortunately, he died the same day, and she was subsequently held responsible for his death.
There is a similar story of a woman who attacked her husband with acid because he was in love with another woman. This woman, who was among those released last year, confided in us that she acted out of desperation, as her husband wanted to bring another woman to inherit the house they had built together, to which she had significantly contributed.
In a similar vein, the woman we are discussing claimed that she built her house without any contribution from her husband. She confided in us that there was a time when her husband wanted to marry another woman, and she stood against that move, but that was long ago.
The mother of four pleaded with our organization to intervene in her case for total freedom. We contacted her eldest son, who testified that there had been no previous misunderstandings between his parents that could have led to such tragic events. He explained the hardships they have been enduring without their parents, which have severely affected their education.
Navigating the brief of argument presented by the lawyer *(Francis Ogunbo wale Esq)* before the Appeal Court, CJMR noted that the woman was convicted based on inconclusive circumstantial evidence. It was also observed that the police did not allow the woman to confront her husband face to face to confirm the statements made against her. Furthermore, the police did not bring the accused face to face with the man who testified against her during the investigation and lastly,
The lawyer who reviewed the court records accused the prosecution of withholding evidence that could have favored the accused during the trial most importantly the evidence of her son. Notably, the doctor who prepared the medical report did not appear in court throughout the trial.
Our comprehensive evaluation suggests that this woman may have a chance at total freedom if we can present her appeal to the Board of Mercy for their kind consideration.
If you have 100 reasons to quit, find just one reason to forge ahead. If you discover a wide gap to fill, stand in that gap no matter what. If you encounter a broken bridge, look for a plank to help others cross. Many individuals are struggling, often unsure of whom to turn to or where to go. God has a purpose for our lives, and nothing can cancel that purpose—not even our ignorance.
We have reached out to her son, whose evidence was withheld during the trial. He firmly maintains that his mother had no reason to harm his father in such a manner. His testimony adds weight to her claims of innocence and highlights the need for a thorough reevaluation of the case.
Justice is very expensive, who pay for it?
Pastor Hezekiah Deboboye Olujobi CRJ.*
