In her testimony before Justice Yetunde Adesanya during the ongoing trial of Kazeem, who is charged by the Lagos State government, Oyetunde detailed her ordeal.
Led in evidence by the state counsel, Mr. Olayemi Shofolu, Oyetunde, a 33-year-old trader (soft drinks wholesaler and POS operator), told the court that the incident occurred late in the evening on October 4, 2022, around 11:30 pm to midnight while she was asleep.
She narrated that she felt a stab in her stomach, opened her eyes, and saw the defendant, Kazeem, whose face was partially covered with a regular black hat he wears to work.
According to her, in an attempt to defend herself, she knocked off his cap, revealing his face, while he continued to stab her in the arm, stomach, and back.
She said: “While I was struggling with him (Kazeem), the knife fell off from him and I picked it up to retaliate but noticed it had now bent. I then tried to pick up the center stool to throw at him but before I could, he ran out.
“I pursued after him as he ran towards where the generator set was and fled. Through the light reflection outside, I saw that my intestines were out. I covered my tummy and got my phone and called a number saved as Ayo, in an attempt to call my husband whose number is saved with the same name.”
She added that she later called her close friend and narrated what happened.
“My friend came and met me in the pool of my blood. I told her that my throat was getting dry and in case I die, Kazeem was responsible”, she said.
She further testified that her husband’s other apprentice, Opeyemi, later arrived with five other people.
When questioned about Kazeem’s whereabouts, she said Opeyemi claimed that Kazeem was not in their apartment.
Oyetunde narrated how she was taken to five different hospitals where she was rejected until she was referred to Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) where she was told that they would perform surgery on her, but it was a 50-50 chance of survival.
She explained that her friend called her husband, who came in the morning and was informed of everything that had happened.
Her husband then called Opeyemi, the other apprentice, and demanded that he produce Kazeem. Opeyemi claimed that Kazeem had traveled due to his mother’s death.
Giving details of how Kazeem was lured back, she told the court that when Kazeem called Opeyemi to inquire about her, Opeyemi told him she had been stabbed at home. Kazeem, it was said, asked who had done it and was told that she had not identified her attacker before she died.
Kazeem then said he would borrow money to return to Lagos to partake in the burial food.
According to her, Kazeem returned in the evening of October 5. After dropping his bag to answer the call of nature, her husband confronted him, slapped him, and revealed that she was still alive.
Others gathered to beat Kazeem to death, but her husband intervened, stating he had already informed the police, and insisted that Kazeem be taken to the police station.
Oyetunde expressed shock over the incident, noting that she had been close to Kazeem before it happened.
She recounted that she had a cesarean birth and lost the baby, and while she was pregnant, Kazeem often drove her to the market with her husband’s vehicle to buy goods.
She added that he usually ran all her errands.
During cross examination by the defense counsel, the witness said she was at home with her four years old child on the day of the incident, adding that there was a disagreement on service rendered between the defendant and her husband a week before the incident. She stated that she had planned to intervene on the issue.
Shofolu hinted the court that the prosecution intends to call three other witnesses to testify.
Justice Adesanya after listening to her testimony subsequently adjourned to December 2, 9, 10, 2024 for continuation of trial. NATION
