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   Ismaila Salau, a 49-year-old electrician, on Tuesday in an Igbosere High Court denied killing his wife, Silifat Yakubu, with a pestle. Salau was arraigned in 2015, on a count charge of murder preferred against him by the Lagos State Government. At the resumed hearing, Salau, who was led in evidence by his counsel, Mr A. A. Babalola, said on Oct. 3, 2014, he was held up in traffic after running errands for a friend. Salau said that when he got home, he did not see his wife, who had gone to her mother's place for Sallah celebration and her phone was switched off. He said he called his older daughter who told him that the deceased left her mother's house since 8 p.m. Salau narrated how he went for a village meeting the following day and heard about a pregnant woman who drowned in the stream. He said, "I then told the Baale that my wife was missing so he asked me and my wife's older brother to go to the Badagry General Hospital where the corpse was deposited to check if it was my wife. "When I saw the corpse, I knew that that was my wife."
    During cross-examination by the Lagos State prosecutor, Jubril Kareem, the accused admitted that he did not report to the police about his missing wife. He, however denied the statement he allegedly made to the police during police investigation. After listening to the evidence, Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye, adjourned the case until April 9, for continuation of trial. Earlier, the prosecutor told the court that the defendant murdered his wife, Silifat Yakubu, by hitting her head with a pestle and dumping her corpse in a nearby stream. However, the defendant pleaded not guilty and was remanded in custody.