Ruth Matete Acquited In Nigerian Husband's Death As Case Is Closed: "It's Over"

• Ruth Matete gave a sigh of relief after the court found her not guilty of her Nigerian husband's death
• John Apewajoye and Matete tied the knot in a colourful wedding ceremony in 2019, only for him to die four months later
• The man was working on fixing their gas cylinder at home, which ended up exploding after the released gas got absorbed by clothes hanging on the lines

Tusker Project Fame winner Ruth Matete has talked about her acquittal in her hubby's death probe.

What happened to Ruth Matete's husband?

Matete's husband died due to severe burns following a gas accident in their home.

Pastor John Apewajoye was working on fixing their gas cylinder at home, which ended up exploding after the released gas got absorbed by clothes hanging on the lines.

The pastor was taken to the hospital and stayed in the ICU for a few days before succumbing to the burns.

Ruth and her neighbours were able to put out the fire and rushed John to the hospital, where he was admitted to the ICU.

The singer had been told that John was out of danger and would heal slowly, but things turned for the worst when he died just a few days after getting out of ICU.

Was Ruth Matete acquitted of hubby's death?

Detectives probed into the death of the pastor, and Matete joyously announced the closure of the case.

She revealed that she had moved on from her lover's passing, but questions about his death were still pending.

"I was to write a very long post. By now you know I can really do long posts. But I realised that that would mean writing down all that has happened in the last four years. Then I changed my mind.

So here I am, trying to make it as short as possible. It’s been four years. Life kind of moved on, but something was still pending. The following pictures, are pictures that show my life in the different stages up until where I am today."

The musician recalled how she was barred from laying her father's child to rest for nearly three months but was glad she was acquitted from the case.

"I was accused of killing him. I was barred from laying him to rest for three months. Stuff was taken away from me as exhibits. Three phones and two gas cylinders. The small one that caused the accident and the big one that was working. The small one was later confiscated. I later got my baby and tried to move on. I kept serving God.

A few days ago, the court case that had been hanging over my head, was finally closed. The hearing was on 25th April 2024, and I was declared free. The case is over. The file is closed. To the glory of God!. I got back the gas cylinder and the three phones."

Matete's daughter hugs late dad's portrait

In other news, Matete was emotional after her daughter Taoluwa Apewajoye identified her father in a portrait.

The musician noted her baby girl was swift to say, "dad" after seeing the portrait of Matete's late husband.

The pastor said she had never shown her daughter the portrait or even told the little girl stories of her father.

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.