The Chief Magistrate Court in Akure, Ondo State, has issued an order for the remand of James James Emmanuel, a 35-year-old labourer, who is accused of raping a 55-year-old co-labourer, Mrs. Deborah Abiodun, to death.
The allegations suggest that the defendant committed the heinous act at a poultry firm located at Oke-Odu area, off Ilere, on Ijare road, Akure. James was arraigned on two counts related to murder and rape. After allegedly raping the victim to death, he purportedly struck her with a stone on her head and disposed of her body in a waste pit.
During the proceedings, the police prosecutor, Anwana Josephine, informed the court that the suspect committed the offense on the 17th day of January 2024, at approximately 11:00 pm.
Anwana specified that the charges filed against the defendant were in violation of 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 11.00 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”.
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.
