Olubunmi Abodunde, a 48-year-old Nigerian man, has been remanded by a United Kingdom court for allegedly murdering his wife, Taiwo Abodunde, aged 41. The incident occurred when Abodunde suspected his wife of having extramarital affairs.
According to Mail Online, he beat her to death using his son’s skateboard while police were waiting outside for permission to enter.
Despite bail conditions imposed the previous day, which barred him from the residence due to his history of domestic violence, Abodunde entered the house.
When the police finally entered the house 25 minutes later, they found Taiwo with her skull bashed in.
The couple, who had three children, had moved to the UK from Nigeria in 2022. A post-mortem examination revealed that Taiwo had been strangled until she lost consciousness, then stomped on until her ribs were broken, before Abodunde used the skateboard to deliver the fatal blows. The violence was so severe that the skateboard was damaged.
During the hearing, the court learned about the couple’s history of arguments, including clashes over alleged affairs and bills.
Abodunde, who had been investigated by Suffolk Police for domestic abuse, initially pleaded not guilty to murder. However, he changed his plea to guilty after the jury was sworn in.
Prosecutor Simon Spence KC informed the court that the banging noises heard by officers were likely Abodunde continuing to attack his wife after she was unconscious or dead.
Judge Martyn Levett of Ipswich Crown Court told Abodunde that the only possible penalty for his crime was life imprisonment.
Suffolk Constabulary has presented themselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) for investigation. The IOPC confirmed that three officers were under investigation for potential breaches of professional behavior standards.
An IOPC spokesperson stated, “We advised two Suffolk officers that they are under investigation for potential breaches of the police standards of professional behavior at the level of gross misconduct. We advised another officer that they are under investigation at the level of misconduct.”
Abodunde had a history of jealousy and suspicion, frequently accusing his wife of having affairs. He had been investigated by the police several times over alleged domestic violence incidents prior to his wife’s death.
He was previously arrested on April 27 last year when police found Mrs. Abodunde with a split lip. Later that day, he was released on police bail with the condition that he stay away from the marital home and not approach his wife.
