Tears flowed at the Atan Cemetery, Yaba, Lagos as the remains of 36-year-old Ronke Shonde, who was allegedly killed by her husband, Lekan, were buried on Friday.
The small group of mourners at the sight made of her family and close friends, could not hold back their tears as the deceased’s first child, aged six, suddenly let out a cry when Ronke was lowered into the grave.
The children were said to have earlier taken a gaze at the remains of their mother at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, but the reality of her death struck as she was laid in the earth.
The solemn ceremony, lasted only about 15 minutes.
Ronke’s mother was left at home, while her uncle, who owned the publishing company where she worked before her death, was said to have travelled abroad.
No family member or relation of her husband was present at the burial.
It was gathered that the corpse left the LASUTH mortuary around 2pm and was conveyed in a hired hearse.
As the hearse bearing her body arrived the cemetery, a pastor from the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Destiny Sanctuary, where Ronke worshipped at their home in Egbeda, called for the singing of a hymn. He sermon thereafter lasted just few minutes.
Everybody initially held back their emotions while the homily lasted until the deceased’s first child led the gathering in a flood of tears.
A family member, who spoke with Saturday PUNCH on the condition of anonymity, called for justice for the late Ilorin, Kwara State indigene.
He said the children might never know what it meant to have a mother, adding that only justice would assuage the feeling when they grew up.
It was learnt that the two children would be in the custody of their aunt, Bolatito, in the meantime.
Another family member described Ronke as a loving person, saying her death was painful.
“This is painful and sad. Ronke was a lovely person. She should get justice,” he said.
Meanwhile, an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate’s Court, Yaba on Friday ordered that Lekan be remanded in the Ikoyi prison for allegedly killing Ronke.
The Chief Magistrate, I.O. Adelaja, said the defendant should be remanded for the first 30 days permitted by law pending the release of a legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
This is just as the police said in its remand warrant that there was no witness in the case, the suspect did not make confessional statement, and there was no fingerprint evidence against Lekan.
The police on Friday arraigned Lekan on one count of murder.
The charge stated, “That you, Shonde Olalekan, on May 5, 2016 at about 8.30pm at 3, Tiemo Street, Egbeda, Lagos, in the Lagos Magisterial District, did kill one Ronke Shonde, by giving her fist blow in her head and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.”
There was a mild drama when the court clerk, who read the charge, asked Lekan if he understood what had been read to him.
The accused asked that the charge be reread to him, after which he replied, “I did not kill her.”
The police prosecutor, Chinalu Uwadione, said the police were with a remand request, urging the court to keep Lekan in prison pending the release of legal advice from the DPP.
The police, in the remand warrant, said the Abeokuta, Ogun State indigene, did not confess to the crime, was not arrested with any exhibit and there was no fingerprint evidence against him.
The Chief Magistrate, Adelaja, said the case was a capital offence.
She said, “The charge brought by the police against the defendant is a capital offence. Pursuant to Section 264 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State, 2011, the defendant is ordered to be remanded in prison pending legal advice.”
The case was adjourned till June 24, 2016.
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