The alleged incident took place at a poultry firm located in the Oke-Odu area, off Ilere, on Ijare road, Akure. James was arraigned on two counts of murder and rape, with accusations that after committing the heinous act, he struck Mrs Deborah Abiodun on the head with a stone and disposed of her lifeless body inside a waste pit.

According to Police Prosecutor Anwana Josephine, the defendant committed the offense on January 17, 2024, around 11:00 pm. The charges levied against James 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 reads: “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 Magisterial District did kill one Deborah Abiodun ‘T’ 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”.

In her ruling, Magistrate Folashade Aduroja ordered the defendant to be remanded in the Correctional Centre in Ondo town and scheduled the trial to resume on March 27, 2024. This tragic incident underscores the urgency of addressing violence against women and the need for swift justice in such cases.