By Becky Usman

A 35-year-old labourer, James James Emmanuel, has been ordered to be remanded by the Chief Magistrate Court in Akure, Ondo State, for allegedly raping his 55-year-old co-worker, Mrs. Deborah Abiodun, to death.

The accused reportedly committed the heinous act at a poultry firm located in the Oke-Odu area, off Ilere, on Ijare road, Akure. He was arraigned on two counts of murder and rape, as it is alleged that after raping the victim to death, he proceeded to strike her head with a stone and disposed of her body in a waste pit.

Police prosecutor Anwana Josephine informed the court that the incident occurred on the 17th day of January 2024, around 11:00 pm. The charges brought against James Emmanuel are 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 outlines the accusations, stating, “That you, James Emmanuel, 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, 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, on the same date, time, and place in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did kill one Deborah Abiodun by hitting her with a 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.”

Magistrate Folashade Aduroja, in her ruling, ordered the defendant to be remanded in the Correctional Centre in Ondo town and scheduled the trial to resume on March 27, 2024.