Man arrested for alleged murder of wife

A 35-year-old man, who allegedly strangled his pregnant wife and took refuge in a toilet at the Akyem Oda Jubilee Hospital in the Birim Central municipality of the Eastern Region, has been arrested by the Oda police.

The accused, Ibrahim Ali, has been remanded in prison custody by the Oda District Court, presided over by Mr Kwesi Apeatse Abaidoo, to reappear on April 3, 2020.

The Oda Divisional Crime Officer, Superintendent Mr Mathias Yevugah, said Ibrahim claimed he returned from the mosque about 3 p.m. on March 3, 2020, to see his 28-year-old wife, who was seven – month pregnant, lying motionless on the floor of his bedroom and raised an alarm.

He said police investigations later revealed that in the morning of that day, Ibrahim had picked a quarrel with the wife, Salamatu Ali, and assaulted her mercilessly. Mr Yevugah said on his return from the mosque in the afternoon, Ibrahim allegedly assaulted the wife again during which he strangled her.

Hiding

The crime officer said while the police were investigating the case, Ibrahim left the scene and went into hiding. Mr Yevugah said they subsequently received information by the management of the Oda Jubilee Hospital that an unidentified man had locked himself up in one of their toilets.

He said based on the report, the police broke into the toilet and to their amazement, Ibrahim, who was being sought in connection with the death of his wife, was found hiding in the toilet.
The officer said he was arrested to assist in investigations over the wife’s death.

He said investigations revealed that a week before the death of Salamatu, the accused left their matrimonial home and failed to return.
Ibrahim’s relatives reported to the police that they suspected he had been kidnapped.

Mr Yevugah said the deceased’s brothers later traced Ibrahim to Niger and informed the Oda police that he had not been kidnapped but had sneaked to his home country without their knowledge.
He said Ibrahim returned to Oda a week later.