Murder of banker: Late wife feared hubby would kill her —Source

IndicationS emerged, yesterday, that the late Ronke Shonde, the banker that was allegedly killed, last week, by her husband during a domestic violence at their Egbeda residence in Lagos, confided in one of her friends about her husband’s sudden change of attitude. She expressed fear for her life. But, preliminary investigations by the police revealed that there were marks of violence on the deceased face. Vanguard was reliably informed that the late banker had complained of being beaten by her husband last month, during an argument, to her confidant (names undisclosed) Although her confidant kept the major cause of the quarrel secret, she was reported to have attributed one of the causes to Lekan’s over-bearing attitude. Late Ronke Shonde with her alleged killer husband during their ‘sweet’ days Meanwhile, members of Redeemed Christian Church of GOD, RCCG, where the deceased worshiped, have expressed shock over the incident, stating that there were never any marks of violence on her before her death, as this would have made them to intervene. When Vanguard visited the RCCG, Destiny Sanctuary, members were seen in groups discussing the fate that had befallen one of their own. Speaking exclusively to Vanguard, Pastor of the parish, Pastor Olu Davids, said “on behalf of the church, we are still in shock over her death. This is because she was a member of this great church. I knew Ronke very well. She and her husband attended our church. “Though, she had never discussed her marital issues with me, I can tell you that she attended our church regularly. And before the incident of last Thursday, I never saw any injury on her that could have warranted me to ascertain the cause. “Also, there was no sign on her face to portray that all was not well in the family or that she was ill. As I said earlier, we are in shock because we don’t know what must have led to her death,” Davids added. On their parts, residents of 3 Tiemo Crescent, where the Shondes reside, disclosed that the couple moved into the building three years ago. One of them, who gave his name simply as Abu, said: “I don’t know the church the husband attends, but I know that he often wore white garment. But I can confidently say that his wife attended RCCG. “The circumstance surrounding this ugly situation is a mystery to everyone. This is because I never saw them engaged in a fight. “Lekan usually leaves home during the week at about 5a.m. and returns at 8p.m. He was always seen with a polythene bag containing items for his wife and two kids. “From my discussion with him, I don’t believe that Lekan would have perpetrated that act. This is because with my relationship with the family since they moved into this community, we have not had any reason to settle any differences between them. Because of their tight schedules, they employed the service of a nanny who resumes by 6 am daily, to prepare their children for school and also attends to their needs after they return from school. But the nanny told us that on the day in question, Lekan called her and instructed that she should not come as usual, that the children would not be going to school that day. “It was the screaming of the children who saw their mother lying on the floor that alerted everyone. And we could not gain entrance into the apartment for hours because the burglary was locked. When a call was put through to her husband (Lekan) he instructed us to break the key. After several attempts we gained entrance, only to discover the lifeless body of his wife on the floor,” he said. Their two children as gathered had been taken into custody by one of their relatives. However, effort to reach Lekan has proved abortive as his phone was still switched off. But Police sources assured that he would be apprehended. Already, the nanny as gathered had been interrogated by the Police. When contacted, the Lagos State Police Command, Dolapo Badmus said “we are still on the lookout for him. Effort is ongoing to get him. Meanwhile the case has been transferred to the Homicide section of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department”, she said.