Forgiven But Not Forgotten : Woman Strangles Friend 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.
he was arrested and arraigned before a Yaba
Magistrate’s Court where she is facing a
murder rap.
According to residents around the area,
Josephine bore a grudge against her friend 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 and choked her by strangling her
neck. When the woman died, she 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 later 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.