A 35-year-old man identified as James Emmanuel, has been remanded in Ondo prison by a Chief Magistrate Court for raping a 55-year-old woman, Deborah Abiodun to death.
Emmanuel was said to have hit the deceased head with a stone after raping her at a poultry farm, at Oke-Odu axis of Akure South Local Council Area of Ondo State and dumped her corpse inside a waste pit in order to cover his tracks.
With the accused arraigned on two counts bordering on murder and rape before Magistrate F.A. Aduroja, the Police Prosecutor, Inspector Anwana Josephine told the court that the suspect committed the offence on the 17th day of January, 2024 at about 11.00pm.
The Prosecutor stated that the offence was 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 17th day of January, 2024 at about 11.00pm at Ilere, on Ijare Road, Akure in the Akure Magisterial District.
“He 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 Magisterai District did kill one Deborah Abiodun ‘T’ by hitting her with stone on her head and dumped her corpse inside a waste pit.
“He 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 F.A. Aduroja in her ruling ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Correctional Centre in Ondo town.
She subsequently adjourned the trial till March 27, 2024.
