The wife of the late Ghanaian academic Kofi Akamani allegedly fired six shots at his vehicle as he was leaving her apartment after dropping off their children, prosecutors have told a US court.

Betty Akamani is facing two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the death of her husband, a professor at Southern Illinois University (SIU).

She appeared before Judge Steven Bost at the Jackson County Courthouse on Monday, September 21.

According to prosecutors, Kofi Akamani had gone to his wife’s apartment to drop off their children after a scheduled visitation.

They said Betty Akamani fired at his vehicle as he was leaving.

Kofi Akamani was shot five times, while six spent shell casings were recovered from the yard, prosecutors told the court.

The state asked the court to detain Betty Akamani without bond pending trial.

Judge Bost granted the request.

Her next court appearance has been scheduled for October 6.

A trial date has not yet been set.

Prosecutors also told the court that Betty Akamani had accused her husband of trafficking children through a local restaurant.

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office investigated the allegation and determined that it was untrue, according to the prosecution.

The prosecution said interviews with several people, including the couple’s children, also did not support the allegation.

Prosecutors further referred to statements Kofi Akamani made during a 2024 order of protection hearing.

According to the state, he told the court that his wife had a history of mental health difficulties, including hearing voices, believing people had said things they had not said, and making false accusations against him.

“The victim experienced years of manipulation from the defendant,” prosecutors told the court.

The claims were made by prosecutors during the preliminary stage of the case.

Betty Akamani has not been convicted.

Kofi Akamani, a professor at Southern Illinois University, was shot dead in Illinois on Saturday.