Husband 'used hidden camera to watch wife and told her he had spiritual powers', court hears

A husband convinced his wife he could watch her using 'spiritual power' - and made her sign a contract promising she'd never drink, smoke or lie - a court heard. Lukman Shonibare, 44, told wife Lyndsay his powers meant he'd seen her smoking at home, but actually he was watching her via a hidden camera, it is alleged.

The trial at Manchester Crown Court heard Mr Shonibare, originally from Nigeria, frequently threatened to divorce his wife and made her sign and date a contract pledging never to 'drink, smoke or lie' in January 2020. Jurors were told Mrs Shonibare was not given a chance to name her first son because he told her in Nigeria women don't decide what their children are called.

In a statement read during day one of his trial, she alleged he pinched and slapped her, telling her he was the 'boss'. Mr Shonibare, of Sale, Trafford, has pleaded not guilty to one count of coercive and controlling behaviour.

READ MORE: 'He showed absolutely no remorse for his actions'

Lyndsay told the jury her husband told her in 2020: "I'm spiritual and I can see these things. I know what you are doing."

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."

She added he would 'drink holy water from Nigeria, but he would always be angry'. Mr and Mrs Shonibare married in November 2015, and had her first son in 2016 and second in 2019.

The court heard Mrs Shonibare was gradually isolated from her friends and family, at the request of her husband. She told the court she had gone for drinks with work colleagues in December 2014, before her husband reprimanded her for doing so.

"He said to me that he