Mother Of Suspected Banker Wife Killer: My Son Is Not A Murderer

Bolanle Arowole, the 52-year-old mother of Akolade Arowolo, who allegedly killed his banker wife, Titilayo has absolved her son of complicity in the death of his wife.

Mrs Bolanle, who appeared as the second defence witness in the ongoing trial of Mr Akolade before a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, said she would disagree with anybody who claims that her son killed Titilayo “because Akolade is not that kind of a child who is violent”.

She said, “My son (Akolade) from his childhood till the day he got married when he stopped staying with me has always been well behaved, had the fear of God and was never violent.

“I know his behaviour well enough and he has been a pastor at age 12. Though I don’t know what killed her (Titilayo) but I will disagree with anybody who tells me that my son killed her because he is not that kind of a child.”

Mrs Bolanle said she fainted at the residence of the couple on the 25th of June 2011, when she learnt that Titilayo’s lifeless body was lying in the apartment.

She said Akolade’s younger brother, Tunde, was the first to go in to the couple’s apartment through the ceiling and came back to break the news.

She said, “The news that Titilayo was in that apartment was shocking because she had long moved to her father’s place after issues relating to an abortion she had without her husband’s consent.

“As soon as Tunde told me that he found Titilayo dead in the apartment, I fainted and just suddenly woke up inside a vehicle while they were taking me for medical care.

“I saw Akolade five days after at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti. I met him in a very bad state and he couldn’t even utter a word and speak with me.

“He had deep cuts on his palm while he also sustained wounds on his arm, navel region, and some other body parts and the police said they were taking him to the hospital for medical treatment.”

Mrs Bolanle also described her son’s marriage to the deceased as accidental.

She said, “I first met Titilayo in July 2007 when Akolade brought her home and described her to me as his school mate at his master’s degree class.

“I didn’t see Titilayo again until July 2008 when Akolade brought her home again that she was pregnant for him. I was shocked at the development and asked Titilayo if she was truly from a Christian family.

“Both of them begged me and my husband & i went to see the deceased parents after two weeks. But, after one month, my son suddenly brought the wedding invitation cards saying he had fixed a date in consultation with the deceased’s family.”

After cross-examination Justice Lateefah Okunnu adjourned till 29 January for continuation of the case of the defence.