By Peter Dansu A 24-year-old Lagos resident, Paul Odu, has narrated how his mother, Mrs. Temitope Odu, a newly called lawyer, died just a d...
By Peter Dansu
A 24-year-old Lagos resident, Paul Odu, has narrated how his mother, Mrs. Temitope Odu, a newly called lawyer, died just a day after her husband, his father, allegedly beat and verbally assaulted her in their home at Liberty Estate, Ikorodu.
According to Paul in an interview with the Punch Newspaper, , his mother had only recently returned from Abuja, where she attended her call-to-bar ceremony, a milestone she worked tirelessly to achieve after years of studying law at the National Open University of Nigeria. But her joy, he said, was cut short by the man who was supposed to celebrate her.
“My father beat my mum a few days after she returned from Abuja,” Paul told The Punch. “He called her all sorts of names, accusing her of sleeping with men. He even beat me when I tried to defend her.”
Paul explained that his father had always been violent, describing years of abuse his mother endured in silence. Neighbours, he said, were aware of the assaults but often stayed away out of fear.
“He Beat Her After Taking Her Belongings”
The young man recalled that his father deliberately provoked his mother by locking up some of her belongings in his room. When she asked for them, he allegedly attacked her, striking her in the face.
Paul said he reported the incident to the police, but his father denied everything and was released. Later, his father reportedly went around the community, spreading false claims that Paul had assaulted him, a tactic, Paul believes, to shift blame and cover up his violence.
“She Died the Next Morning”
Temitope reportedly died the following morning after complaining of severe body pain from the previous day’s assault. She had called a nurse friend to attend to her but passed away before the nurse could return.
“That morning, she told me to make her pap and warm her rice. She wasn’t ready to eat yet, so I went back to sleep,” Paul said emotionally. “When I woke up, I found her lifeless. She was cold.”
Paul said his father was at home at the time but refused to open his door or respond when informed of his wife’s death.
“He Once Fasted and Prayed for Her Death”
The son also revealed chilling details about his father’s hatred towards his mother, claiming he once embarked on a three-day fast, praying aloud that his wife should die.
Temitope, a civil servant with the Ministry of Agriculture before pursuing law, was described as calm, hardworking, and devoted to her family despite years of abuse. She built the family house where the tragedy occurred.
Family Speaks: “We Regret Not Telling Her to Leave”
Her elder brother, Mr. Gbeyi Olorunfunmi, confirmed that the deceased had long suffered domestic violence.
“We knew about the abuse. I advised him several times to stop, but he never listened,” he said. “I deeply regret not telling my sister to leave that marriage. If I had known it would end like this, I would have insisted she left.”
Gbeyi said the family has vowed to seek justice, adding that Temitope’s husband is currently in police custody at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, Lagos.
“He Must Face the Law”
Paul said his family trusts the government and law enforcement agencies to ensure justice is served.
“Whatever punishment the court decides, I’m okay with it. My mother deserves justice,” he said firmly.
Temitope’s tragic story has once again drawn attention to the growing menace of domestic violence in Nigeria, a silent epidemic that continues to claim lives, often behind closed doors.
Credit: Punch
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