Court Adjourns Trial Of Domestic Staff Accused Of Killing Judge’s Daughter

Justice Ibironke Harrison of the Lagos State High Court in Igbosere has adjourned the ongoing trial of two domestic staff, Abigail Peter and Olusegun Olatunji, charged with the murder of their employer, Dr Aribim Chuchu Ajumogobia, until Wednesday.

Dr Ajumogobia is the daughter of a Federal High Court judge, Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, who was allegedly killed by the defendants in front of her house on July 30, 2024, around 11pm.

The 21-year-old defendant, Peter, who was the deceased’s housemaid, and Olatunji, 35, the deceased’s driver, were found to have conspired to murder Dr Ajumogobia, aged 37, by stabbing her with scissors.

The Lagos State government had arraigned the defendants in April 2025 before the court on a two-count charge of conspiracy and murder.

They, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

During the proceedings, the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), DSP Gafar Oderinde, tendered a video recording of the defendants shortly after their arrest.

The court viewed the video, after which the IPO testified that the body of the deceased was found at the entrance of her parents’ home in Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Oderinde also stated that security guard Umaru Mohammed was poisoned with an unspecified substance that caused him to fall asleep and that the security dog intended to assist was tied up, preventing it from noticing or barking during the crime.

The witness further testified that laptops, human hair, and other items recovered from the suspects are stored in the exhibit room. “All clothing with bloodstains found at the scene has been sent to Forensics for DNA testing.”

Justice Harrison has adjourned proceedings until March 12 for the cross-examination of the fourth prosecution witness.

A forensic pathologist from Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Prof Sunday Soyemi, who testified as the first prosecution witness, had earlier presented the post-mortem report.

The brother of the deceased, Awonaribo Ajumogobia, aged 33, testified as the second witness.

He testified that he received a call from one of the defendants informing him that his sister had died at their parents’ house. He said he went to the scene and found her body outside the compound, which was later taken to Mainland General Hospital, Yaba, for preservation and autopsy.

Inspector Tope Ijatuyi of the Ikoyi Police Division was the third defence witness. She provided details of the preliminary investigation conducted on the day of the incident.