Ikechukwu Daryl Ogbonna, better known as IVD, was ordered to remain in custody following the death of his wife, Abimbola Martins-Ogbonna, by a Lagos Magistrates’ Court.

The order was issued by Magistrate Adebayo Kafayat Tella on the recommendation of the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution, who had indicted Ogbonna for involuntary manslaughter.

The defendant should be brought before the Lagos High Court, according to Tella, who read out the DPP Advice. She kept Ogbonna in custody as a result while an information was filed against him and he was arraigned.

However, based on the earlier bail conditions that were set forth for the defendant, defense attorney Abubakar Yesufu requested that the court release him. Tella, however, ruled that she had the authority to hear a case of involuntary manslaughter and that any bail requests should be made to the high court.

The lawsuit was then postponed until March 7, 2023.

After 16 years of marriage, the 37-year-old IVD and Abimbola welcomed five children into the world. But there were many arguments in the marriage, as well as reports of domestic abuse.

The couple was supposed to have reconciled after their argument’s peak when they split up.

However, a fire catastrophe occurred in their Lekki house on Saturday, October 15, 2022, and Abimbola was trapped in the flames.

Abimbola was later rushed to the hospital but she later died from the injuries sustained.

The family of the dead, however, demanded justice while accusing the police of a cover-up and intimidation, and they tried to pressure the family into settling out of court with Ogbonna and dropping their allegations against him.

The family further claimed that Ogbonna’s charges were modified from “manslaughter” to “negligence” by the police in order to make them more amenable to release.

The family’s attorney, Odiana Eriata, testified in court that the case of domestic abuse should have been thoroughly investigated and the offender should have been charged appropriately.