Fidelis David in Akure
A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Oke-eda in Akure, Ondo State’s capital, has remanded a 35-year-old man, Mr. James Emmanuel, for allegedly raping a 55-year-old woman, Mrs. Deborah Abiodun, to death.
THISDAY gathered that the defendant, who is a co-worker of the deceased, committed the alleged offence at a poultry firm located at Oke-Odu area, off Ilere, on Ijare Road, Akure. James, after raping her to death, hit her with stone on her head and dumped her corpse inside a waste pit.
However, the suspect was arraigned on two counts bordering on murder and rape before Magistrate F.A. Aduroja.
Police Prosecutor, Inspector Anwana Josephine, told the court that the suspect committed the offence on January 17, 2024, at about 11.00 p.m., contrary to Section 357 and punishable under Section 358 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Vol. 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.
The charge sheet read: “That you James Emmanuel ‘m’ on January 17, 2024 at about 11.00p.m. at Ilere, on Ijare Road, Akure in the Akure Magisterial District, did rape Deborah Abiodun ‘f’ aged 55 years old and thereby committed an offence, contrary to Section 357 and punishable under Section 358 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Vol. 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.
“That you James Emmanuel ‘m’ on the same date, time and place in the aforementioned Magistrate District did kill one Deborah Abiodun ‘T’ by hitting her with stone on her head and dump her corpse inside a waste pit and thereby committed an offence, contrary to Section 316 and punishable under Section 319 (1) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Vol. 1 Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.”
Meanwhile, Magistrate Aduroja, in her ruling, ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Correctional Centre in Ondo town and adjourned the trial till March 27, 2024.
