Retired judge, Olufunmilayo Timehin, murdered in Abeokuta

A retired Chief Magistrate in Ogun State, Olufunmilayo Timehin, was on Friday murdered allegedly by her housemaid in Laderin Estate Area of Abeokuta, the state capital.

The help, identified as David, was said to  have been employed by the magistrate a few months ago, but was sent packing by his employer few days ago for allegedly stealing and carting away some household items and property.

However, on Friday, few days after his sack, he returned to the house, perhaps having conducted surveillance that the retired female judge was the only person in the compound. He was said to have jumped over the fence from the back of the house with the use of a ladder.

The victim, 65-years-old, was later murdered with a machete inside the house.

The victim’s son, Olumide, who came to see his mum, said he found the gate locked from inside. He said he heard noise inside the house, scaled the fence, and found his mum already dead while the killer had escaped.

The incident later attracted the State Vigilance Service of the Laderin Estate, who embarked on a search, which eventually led to the apprehension of the alleged killer who hid in the bush behind the house. The suspect was said to have feigned madness by pulling off his cloth and appearing like a mentally deranged person.

The suspect was later handed over to the police.

At about 6.02 p.m., the Ogun State Chief Judge, Olatokunbo Olopade, visited the scene in company of some judicial officials. Police officers from Kemta Division, led by the Divisional Police Officer, were also seen in the house conducting investigations.

The house was besieged by sympathisers, while the corpse was later conveyed to the mortuary. The leader of the Laredin Unit of the vigilante, Mukaila Ayelotan, confirmed the apprehension of the suspect and subsequent handover to police.