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| Life Sentence for Nigerian Man in UK Following Fatal Skateboard Assault on Wife |
A Nigerian man who relocated to the UK in 2022 and fatally assaulted his wife with a skateboard has been sentenced to life imprisonment, with a minimum term of 17 years.
Olubunmi Abodunde, 48, was remanded by a UK court for the murder of his wife, whom he suspected of infidelity.
As reported by Mail Online, Abodunde attacked his wife with their son's skateboard while police awaited authorization to enter the premises.
UK officers reported hearing 'several bangs' from within the house Abodunde had entered, despite being barred from the property due to prior domestic violence incidents.
Upon entry 25 minutes later, they found his wife, Taiwo Abodunde, 41, with severe head injuries.
The force used in the attack was so extreme that the pathologist could not determine the number of strikes Taiwo endured.
Judge Martyn Levett of Ipswich Crown Court sentenced Abodunde to life, stating he was 'ferocious, ruthless, cold-blooded, callous, and savage'.
Abodunde remained mostly silent about the incident and offered 'no comment' during police questioning.
However, Judge Levett stated: 'You strangled your wife and then beat her to death with one of your children's skateboards.'
Abodunde, who had a history of jealousy and suspicion, had accused his wife of extramarital affairs throughout their marriage.
The court learned that the couple, parents to three children, had moved to the UK from Nigeria in 2022.
On November 28, 2023, in Newmarket, Suffolk, Taiwo suffered 'catastrophic injuries'. A post-mortem revealed she had been strangled until unconscious, then stomped on until her ribs broke, before being bludgeoned with the skateboard, which was also damaged in the process.
Prosecutor Simon Spence KC suggested the noises heard by the officers were likely Abodunde continuing his assault on his wife, even after she was unconscious or deceased.
In addition to disputes over alleged affairs, the couple also argued about finances.
Abodunde, previously investigated for domestic abuse, was set to stand trial for murder but entered a guilty plea as the trial commenced.
Judge Levett confirmed that life imprisonment was the only sentence possible.
Suffolk Constabulary reported themselves to the Independent Office of Police Conduct, leading to an investigation of three officers.
Abodunde had been arrested on April 27 the previous year when police found his wife with a split lip at their home. He was released on bail with the condition to avoid the family home and not contact his wife.
