A Magistrate Court sitting in Akure, Ondo state capital, has ordered the remand of a 35-year-old motorcyclist, James Sunday, in police custody, over the alleged murder of his wife’s friend, Justinah Sunday,42.
The accused was remanded by Chief Magistrate, T. O. Olusola-Olujobi.
The Police Prosecutor, Taiwo Oniyere, told the court that the defendant unlawfully murdered Justinah on Sunday, March 13, 2024, at No. 47, Ijoka Street, Ondo within the Ondo State Magisterial District.
Oniyere said the defendant unlawfully killed one Justinah ‘F’, aged 42, by strangling her neck with a rope, which led to her death.
He said the offence contravenes Sections 316 and 319 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.
According to the police prosecutor, the deceased who was a bosom friend of the defendant’s wife, sent the defendant to deliver cow meat worth N250,000 with his bike to one of her customers, but the accused allegedly diverted the meat to his house.
He explained that each time the deceased asked the accused for her money, he would threaten to kill her until he eventually killed her
The defendant however, told the court that he had known the deceased for over nine years in Ile-Oluji town, saying he met his wife through her but claimed not to have come in contact with her ever since they separated and moved to Ondo.
Oniyere urged the court to remand the defendant to the Olokuta Correctional Centre, pending advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP.
But the defence counsel, A.F. Falana, prayed for a date to enable him to file a reply to the remand application.
Chief Magistrate Olusola-Olujobi, ordered the remand of the defendant in police custody and adjourned the case till April 18, 2024, for the ruling.
