26 March 2024 , 18:16
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A husband has been cleared of using 'African spiritual power' on his wife.
Lukman Shonibare, allegedly told wife Lyndsay his powers meant he had seen her smoking at home, but was actually watching her on a camera which was installed in their home. He was accused of convincing his wife he could watch her using "spiritual power" but was cleared of coercive and controlling behaviour. It was also alleged that the 44-year-old frequently threatened to divorce her after they married in November 2015 and would pinch and slap her.
Manchester Crown Court heard he made her sign and date a contract pledging never to "drink, smoke or lie" in January 2020. It claimed he used 'spiritual powers' to threaten her. In a statement read by Roger Brown, prosecuting, she said: "He threatens me with spiritual power and that he's higher than another human being. It scares me because of spiritual powers in Africa."
Jurors, however, heard Mrs Shonibare had a drink problem and jurors were shown a video which was played in court, Mr Shonibare told a police officer: "The police have said that Lyndsay is an alcoholic." Steve Nikolich, defending, said an alleged incident of him pushing his wife's head into pillow was "a fabrication" to cover her "drunken state."
Mr Nikolich told the jury that the 'torture chamber' Mrs Shonibare said she felt she was in was 'in her head'. Mr Shonibare, a Nigerian national who lives in Sale, Greater Manchester, was found not guilty of one count of coercive and controlling behaviour after the accusations made against him by his wife.
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The jury took just two hours of deliberations before returning a unanimous verdict. Recorder David O'Mahony, who presided over the case, said: "Thank you very much for all your hard work in this case. I appreciate the time and work you've put in. Mr Shonibare, you may leave the dock."