By The daily Torch Media
A youth pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Akolade Arowolo, has been sentenced to death by hanging for the murder of his wife, Titilayo Arowolo, a banker with Skye Bank.
Following the ruling, Arowolo broke down in tears and began praying fervently in the courtroom. The case, which was presided over by Justice Lateefat Okunu of the Ikeja High Court, concluded with a death sentence after compelling evidence proved beyond reasonable doubt that Arowolo killed his wife in their matrimonial home.
A crucial part of the prosecution’s case was the forensic testimony of Professor John Oladapo Obafunwa, a renowned pathologist, who performed the autopsy. His report revealed that the deceased had sustained 76 stab wounds. He categorically stated that it was impossible for Titilayo to have inflicted such injuries on herself.
During the trial, Arowolo claimed that his wife was possessed and had attacked him, inflicting the wounds herself. However, Professor Obafunwa debunked the claim, noting that the nature and number of injuries—including wounds to the eyes, chest, and collarbone—were consistent with a violent assault by another person.
Family members of the deceased also testified, describing the couple’s marriage as troubled and marked by frequent violence and emotional distress.
Immediately after the judgment was delivered, Arowolo collapsed in the dock, crying out, “Jesus, have mercy.”
Family members of the deceased, including her father, Mr. George Oyakhire; sister, Ijeh; and mother, Mrs. Adetoun Yeside Oyakhire, testified that the couple lived a turbulent “cat and mouse” life. They stated that they had intervened multiple times to resolve serious domestic disputes between the two. However, none of them witnessed what transpired on the day Titilayo died.
A key witness, Mr. Adewale Adeyemi, a co-tenant of the couple, told the court that he heard a loud noise from the Arowolos’ apartment on the day of the incident. He said he later saw Akolade Arowolo rushing out of the house with deep cuts on his palms. He also claimed to have found a hammer and a broken-handled knife in the yard. Additional testimonies came from the security guard of the building, the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), and a staff of MTN.
Arowolo’s parents, Mr. Mudashiru and Mrs. Arowolo, testified in their son’s defense, insisting that he was a deeply religious person and incapable of murder.
In his own defense, Arowolo gave a different version of events. He claimed that on the day of the incident, he and his wife had engaged in passionate intimacy and shared affectionate moments. He alleged that they later had a fight during which Titilayo, whom he described as being under the influence of an evil spirit, stabbed herself multiple times after attacking him.
Despite his claims of innocence and emotional breakdown in court, Justice Okunu found his story unconvincing, stating that the medical and circumstantial evidence overwhelmingly proved that he had murdered his wife. The court held him responsible for her death and sentenced him accordingly.
