A 30-year old man, Musa Mohammed, who disguised as a labourer and murdered a 45-year old Pastor Dada Itopa for failed ritual purposes, has been remanded at the Olokuta Correctional Centre in Ondo State.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the order was given by Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Oke-Eda, Akure, following his arraignment for the alleged murder under the Criminal law of the State.
The defendant, Mohammed and his accomplice, Omatai, now at large, allegedly disguised as farm labourers and hacked the late Itopa to death at Ebira camp in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The defendants also attacked the Pastor’s 30-year old wife, Bose Dada, with cutlass at the same scene but she was later rescued.
The defendant, Mohammed, was arrested and he allegedly confessed that they carried out the attack because they needed to deliver a fresh human head to a herbalist, who had requested it in Ipele town for ritual.
He was charged before the Court on three counts charge bordering on conspiracy and murder, which attracts several years of imprisonment and life imprisonment.
The Prosecutor, Inspector Nelson Akintimehin, told the Court that Mohammed committed the offences on 7th August, 2023 at Ebira Camp, in lpele Owo with another at large, unlawfully macheted the deseased with cutlass on his head and neck which resulted to his death.
The prosecutor also told the Court that the defendant on same date, time and place attempted to kill one Bose Dada, by macheting her on her head and neck.
The offences, he said, contravened Sections 324, 316, 319, 320 of the Criminal Code, Cap.37, Volume 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.
The prosecutor urged the Court to remand the accused in Correctional Centre pending advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).
The defendant had no legal representation.
The Presiding Chief Magistrate, Muse Al-Yunus, ordered his remand in custody and ordered the prosecutor to duplicate the file and send it to DPP for advice.
The matter was adjourned till 5th December, 2023, for outcome of advice, which will determine if the matter will be transferred to the High Court or not over jurisdiction.