The suspect
By Funke Pedro
A female lawyer, Udeme Otike-Odibi, is alleged to have killed her husband, Symphorosa Otike-Odibi, who is also a legal practitioner, inside their home in Diamond Estate, Sangotedo, Lekki, Lagos.
According to police reports, the incident began with a domestic dispute during which Udeme allegedly attacked her husband with a frying pan before stabbing him in the abdomen.
She then allegedly mutilated his corpse, by cutting off his genitals.
Investigators claimed that she admitted to the acts in a confessional statement.
She described the sequence of events and the motives behind the attack.
Udeme reportedly expressed anger over suspected infidelity and marital disputes, which led to the confrontation and eventual violence.
She was arrested on May 4, 2018, and formally arraigned on June 13, 2018, at a Lagos High Court on charges of murder and misconduct with regard to a corpse.
The suspect had pleaded not guilty and was remanded in Kirikiri Prison.
During court proceedings, the admissibility of her confessional statement became a key point of debate.
The defence argued that proper procedures were not followed, while the prosecution maintained the statement was valid.
The court held a “trial-within-trial” to determine if the confession could be used as evidence.
As of the last available public records, there is no confirmed final verdict or sentencing.
