Alleged Housemaid Manslaughter: Couple Narrates How Housemaid Died

Fortune and Stephen Nwankwo, a couple accused of the murder of their housemaid, Joy Adole, narrated before a Lagos State High Court on Monday how their maid died by hanging herself.

The couple told the court that their maid was discovered in her room on the morning of the incident hung on the ceiling of the room with the aid of the adjustable strap of her traveling bag and ab iron board beneath her.

The couple is facing a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, involuntary manslaughter and accessory after the fact to murder.

They were accused of killing 19-year-old Adole on April 20, 2020, at their residence located at No. 18, Ogundola St., Bariga, Lagos.

The couple, however, denied the allegation, claiming that Adole committed suicide by hanging herself in her bedroom.

At the resume of the matter on Monday, Fortune and Nwankwo while being led by their counsel, Prof Paul Ananaba (SAN) to Fortune told the court that the day that preceded the incident, Joy was caught with noodles and was beaten because she was fond of stealing foodstuffs at home.

She also stated that the deceased denies stealing the foodstuffs but bought them with her money.

Fortune also told the court that after the incident, she had a discussion with the Joy and she apologized and agreed not to do that again and when she asked what she will have for dinner, she said she was not eating till the next day.

“The following morning, I called her while in the kitchen but there was no response, so I went into her room and when I opened the door, I saw her hanging on the ceiling. I screamed and called my husband and told him in our dialect that Joy has killed herself, he screamed too.

“ I called one of our neighbors to come to see what happened and after then, my husband put a call to his father and he later went to the police station to report the incident. I was also asked to report at the station and give statements. The police detained me and while in the detention, my DNA, thumbprint, and blood sample were taken.

I was later remanded at Kirikiri prison,” she said.

Under cross-examination, by Mr. Yusuf Sule the State Prosecutor, Fortune told the court that she enters the deceased room around 7 am and found her dead but she didn’t inform any of the deceased family members of the incident

While giving his evidence, Steven Nwankwo, a Human Resources Personnel also corroborated what his wife said. He said he was so shocked when they discovered Joy’s lifeless body in her room.

“I did not call any member of her family because I was so shocked.

Under cross-examination, he said the first person that came to his mind was his father and that was why he called him instead of the deceased family member.

Steven further told the court that he loves his wife and will not say anything she did not do in court. He also said he believed that his wife will not also say anything he did not do in court.

Following the couple’s evidence before the court, the defence counsel informed the court that it has closed its case.

The trial judge, Justice Oyindamola Ogala thereafter adjourned the matter till January 31, 2022 for the adoption of the final written address.