Arrested: 58 Year Old Woman Strangles Friend To Death For Snatching Her Lover 16 Years Ago

A 58-year old woman, Josephine Jacob, has been arrested and charged to a Lagos court for allegedly strangling her friend, Mrs. Margret Ndidi, 59, in their home at Shasha, Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria.

This happened 16 years after Josephine’s bitter experience of losing a lover to Margret whom he married.

Josephine reportedly went inside Margret’s one room apartment at 19, Omo Olore Street, Mosalashi Bus Stop, Shasha, when she was sleeping and strangled her.

She was arrested and arraigned before Yaba Magistrate’s Court where she is facing murder charge.

P.M.NEWS gathered from the residents that Josephine bore grudge against her over what happened 16 years ago between them.

It was learnt that the marriage of both Josephine and the late Margret later broke down and they both became divorcees.

“ She has been blaming Margret for her condition because she snatched her lover 16 years ago,” a source said.

Though they later reconciled and became friends again and started living together at their two-room rented apartment they shared, unknown to Margret, her friend was still nursing the pain and had not forgiven her.

So, in August this year, Josephine allegedly went inside Margret’s room where she was sleeping, choked her neck and strangled her.

When the woman died, Josephine started shouting for neighbours to come and help her, saying that Margret had died on her bed.

After Margret was rushed to a hospital, a doctor certified her dead. But the hospital management discovered that her neck had bruises and wound. It was suspected that she was strangled.

The matter was reported at Shasha Police station and Josephine was arrested and detained.

The police preliminary investigation also revealed that she was strangled. The matter was transferred to SCID, Panti, Yaba and Josephine’s two daughters were also arrested.

She was charged to court for murder under Section 221 of the Criminal Code Law of Lagos State of Nigeria 2011.

Her plea was not taken.

The presiding Magistrate, Mrs. J. Ugbormaiko ordered that her file should be duplicated and sent to DPP for advice.

No date was fixed for hearing.



—Cyriacus Izuekwe & Jamiu Yisa