MICHAEL AKINOLA
A 35-year old commercial motorcyclist, James Sunday, has been arrested by Police operatives in Ondo State for allegedly using rope to strangle his wife’s friend, identified as Justina, over cow meat.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspect, Sunday, allegedly used a rope to kill the 42-year old Justina after months of being at loggerheads over the diversion of cow meat worth N250,000.
The incident happened on 13th March, 2024, at 47, Ijoka Road, Akure, following series of alleged threats by the suspect at any time the deceased demanded a refund of her money.
The alleged murder was reported to the Police and the suspect was arrested and detained for interrogation.
He was found culpable after rounds of interrogation and was charged before the Akure Chief Magistrate Court on a one-count charge of murder, which attracts several years of imprisonment or life imprisonment.
Police Prosecutor, Taiwo Oniyere, informed the Court that the defendant unlawfully killed Justinah Sunday ‘F’, aged 42, by strangling her on the neck with a rope, which led to her death.
Oniyere alleged that the crime he committed contravened Sections 316 and 319 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.
The Police prosecutor urged the Court to remand the defendant at the Olokuta Correctional Centre pending advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP.
The defendant, who denied the allegation, told the Court that he had known the deceased for over 9 to 10 years in Ile-Oluji town. He said he met his wife through her, claiming that he had not come in contact with her since they all separated and moved to Ondo.
The defence counsel, Falana, prayed for a date to enable him to file a reply to the remand application and possibly granting the defendant bail.
With the defendant’s plea not taken, the Chief Magistrate, T. O. Olusola-Olujobi, ordered the remand of the defendant in Police custody pending the outcome of DPP’s advice.
The matter was adjourned till 18th April, 2024, for mention for the report of DPP’s advice to be ready, which will determine if the matter will be transferred to the High Court or not over jurisdiction.