Renowned wrestler, Power Uti, on trial for allegedly beating wife to death

FOR allegedly killing his wife, renowned wrestler, John Eke Uti a.k.a. Power Uti, was on Tuesday docked before an Ebute Meta Magistrates’ Court.

Uti, 55, was accused of killing his wife, Toyin, in their residence.

Sgt Jimah Iseghede, the prosecutor, told the court that the accused committed the offences on October 10 about 10.25 p.m at No. 17, Oremeji St., Ilupeju, Lagos.

He alleged that the accused beat his wife, Toyin, 38, to death and abandoned the corpse in a room to decompose.

He was arraigned on a two-count charge of murder and disrespect of corpse.

After going through the case file, Magistrate Bola Folarin-Williams said she did not see anything both in the accused’s statement and in the police investigations to show that the accused killed his wife and quashed the remand application brought by the police.

She, therefore, admitted the accused to a bail of N500,000 with two responsible sureties in like sum, who must be blood relations and also work with reputable organisations.

She directed that the case file should be duplicated and a copy forwarded to the State Director of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.

John Eke Uti, a former world wrestling champion, was first taken to Ilupeju Police Station before being transferred to the State Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Department for further investigation.

The case has been adjourned until Nov 15.