Olubunmi Abodunde, a 48-year-old Nigerian man residing in the UK, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his wife, Taiwo, using a skateboard. The tragic incident occurred in November 2023 at their home in Newmarket, leading to Taiwo’s death from severe brain injuries.
According to BBC reports, Abodunde admitted to the crime, citing a loss of control due to medication. The Ipswich Crown Court detailed the brutality of the attack at their Exning Road residence. Abodunde will serve a minimum of 17 years before being eligible for parole.
The court revealed that a domestic incident had occurred the day before Taiwo’s death, resulting in Abodunde’s arrest and subsequent bail conditions that prohibited contact with his wife. Despite these restrictions, he returned to the family home the following morning to retrieve a mobile phone.
Taiwo, a mother of three and a health care assistant, was returning from her overnight shift. Prosecutor Stephen Spence KC informed the court that Abodunde was aware of his wife’s schedule, and CCTV footage confirmed her arrival home around 09:12. At approximately 09:20, two officers arrived at the property to discuss the previous day’s incident but received no response despite persistent knocking.
Spence recounted that between 40 and 50 “thuds” were heard, believed to be Abodunde attacking Taiwo. Authorities entered the home at 09:45 after receiving clearance from senior police officials, discovering Taiwo’s lifeless body with severe skull injuries. A postmortem examination revealed catastrophic brain injuries, signs of strangulation, and evidence of her body being stamped on and hit with a skateboard found at the scene covered in blood and bone fragments.
Abodunde sobbed from the dock as Spence described the crime. Police had forced entry into the home after hearing bangs, suspecting Abodunde was anticipating a confrontation. The court heard that the couple had a history of frequent disputes over bills and money, often involving low-level violence.
Abodunde’s defense attorney, Olu Akudolu, described him as a well-respected man both in the UK and Nigeria, where he had been a local councillor and had a street named after him. Akudolu stated that Abodunde deeply regrets the misery he has caused.
Judge Levett condemned the killing as “ruthless, violent, savage, and heartless,” noting that Abodunde had lied about his wife attempting to attack him with a knife the day before the murder. The judge observed that there was no evidence to support Abodunde’s claims of self-defense or prior violence from Taiwo.
During the sentencing, Abodunde was visibly distraught, with his head in his hands, as the judge remarked on his lack of remorse beyond sobbing in the dock. Suffolk Police has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct due to previous interactions with the couple. Two officers are under investigation for gross misconduct, and another for potential breaches amounting to misconduct. An IOPC spokesman clarified that this does not necessarily mean disciplinary proceedings will follow, and the investigation remains ongoing.
