Court Remands 33-yr-old Man For Rape, Murder Of Woman, 55, In Ondo

For allegedly raping and killing a 55-year-old woman, Mrs Deborah Abiodun, a 35-year-old man, James Emmanuel, has been remanded by a Chief Magistrate Court in Akure, Ondo State.

LEADERSHIP gathered that the defendant, who is a co-worker of the deceased, allegedly committed the offence at a poultry firm located in the Oke-Odu area, off Ilere, on Ijare Road, Akure.

It was further gathered that James, after raping the woman to death, hit her with a stone on her head and dumped her corpse inside a waste pit.

The suspect was, however, arraigned on two-count charge bordering on murder and rape before Magistrate F.A. Aduroja.

Police Prosecutor, Inspector Anwana Josephine, told the court sitting in Oke-Eda, in Akure, the Ondo State capital, that the suspect committed the offence on the January 17, 2024, at about 11.00pm.

According to the Police prosecutor, the offence is 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 reads: “That you James Emmanuel ‘m’ on the 17th day of January 2024 at about 11.00 pm 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 Magisterai District did kill one Deborah Abiodun ‘T’ by hitting her with a stone on her head and dumping 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 F.A. Aduroja in her ruling, ordered that the accused to be remanded in a Correctional Centre in Ondo town and thereafter adjourned the trial till March 27, 2024.