The Chief Magistrate Court in Akure, Ondo State, has ordered that a 35-year-old labourer, James James Emmanuel, be remanded for allegedly raping a 55-year-old co-labourer, Mrs Deborah Abiodun, to death.
The defendant was alleged to have committed the offence at a poultry firm located at Oke-Odu area, off Ilere, on Ijare road, Akure.
James, who was arraigned on two counts bordering on murder and rape, after allegedly raping her to death, hit her with stone on her head and dumped her corpse inside a waste pit.
Earlier, the police prosecutor, Anwana Josephine, informed the court that the suspect committed the offence on 17th day of January, 2024, at about 11.00pm.
Anwana said 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.
The charge sheet read: “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, 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 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”.
In her ruling, Magistrate Folashade Aduroja, ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Correctional Centre in Ondo town and adjourned the trial till March 27, 2024.
