Lagos Court Sentences Man to Death for Setting Wife and Brother-in-Law on Fire

A Lagos State High Court has sentenced Benjamin Ogundero to death by hanging for the brutal murder of his wife, Chinyere Ogundero, and her brother, Ifeanyi Joseph, in April 2022.

The verdict was delivered on Thursday, February 27, 2025, by Justice Sherifat Sonaike at Tafawa Balewa Square. The court found Ogundero guilty of setting his wife and her brother on fire as they slept in their home in Abule Ado, Lagos, following a heated domestic dispute.

“He devised, prepared, and executed the act. This is wickedness of the highest order,” Justice Sonaike stated, condemning the crime as one of the most heinous ever committed.

According to the prosecution, led by Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Martins Babajide, the attack was fueled by Ogundero’s anger over the fact that his wife owned the house they lived in.

Chinyere had purchased the property while working in the banking sector, a fact that allegedly enraged her husband and led him to commit the horrific act.

The trial revealed gruesome details of the attack:

v  Witnesses described Chinyere’s body being so badly burned that her limbs detached from her torso.

v  Ifeanyi Joseph died from severe burns that caused his body to stop circulating blood.

v A neighbor testified seeing Ogundero fleeing the burning house with a fuel gallon, solidifying his direct involvement in the crime.

Justice Sonaike ruled that Ogundero must face the full weight of the law, handing him a death sentence by hanging for murder and an additional life sentence for arson, to begin immediately.

Throughout the trial, the court found no sign of remorse from Ogundero, further reinforcing the severity of his punishment.

This judgment sends a strong message about domestic violence and extreme acts of vengeance, ensuring that justice is served for the victims.