Acid bath suspect re-arraigned for murder

David Sulaimon, who allegedly bathed his fiancée, Chika Egbo, with acid in Ikotun, Lagos on November 5, 2012 has been re-arraigned for murder.

This followed the death of 22-year-old Chika on December 20 at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos.

The amended charge reads in part, “That you, Sulaimon, on November 5 at Bakare Street, Ikotun, Lagos, killed Chika Egbo by bathing her with liquid substance suspected to be acid and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 221 of the Criminal Code Laws of Lagos 2011.”

The three counts also indicated that he caused grievous bodily harm on Sunny Daniels, a commercial motorcyclist.

Chief Magistrate O. Olatunji said because of the new charge, the defendant’s plea could not be taken.

The matter was referred to the Director of Public Prosecution for advice and the case consequently adjourned till February 20.

Sulaimon was remanded in prisons custody pending the receipt of the DPP’s advice by the court.

The accused had been facing trial for attempted murder and inflicting grievous bodily harm on Chika and Daniels.

But at the last hearing, the prosecutor informed the court that there was need to amend the charges since the victim had died.

Chika, a student of the College of Education, Enugu, fell in love with Sulaimon and had a child for him. The relationship  later became estranged.

According to father of the deceased, Matthew, Chika was unhappy that Sulaimon abandoned her after she had the child.

The defendant allegedly lured Chika to Lagos from her Enugu base under the pretext that his mother wanted to see her.

Midway into their journey, Sulaimon allegedly poured a substance on Chika, destroying the tissue on most part of her upper body, her eyes and nose.

Punch.