Man, 35, allegedly rapes colleague, 55, to death

James Emmanuel, age 35, was arrested and remanded in prison on Thursday. Emmanuel was charged with the heinous rape of Deborah Abiodun, age 55, his colleague.

A Chief Magistrate Court of Ondo State, situated in Akure, the capital of Ondo State, issued the remand order.

The Ondo State Police Command apprehended Emmanuel on January 17, 2024, on suspicion that he had murdered Abiodun, a colleague of his located in the Oke-Odu Area of Akure.

Josephine Anwana, the police prosecutor, informed the court that the alleged offender committed the crime at approximately 11 p.m. on January 17, 2024.

Anwana stated that the aforementioned offence violated Section 357 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Vol. 1 Laws of Ondo State, Nigeria, 2006 and was punishable under Section 358.

The charge sheet stated as follows: "That you, James Emmanuel,'m', committed the offence of raping Deborah Abiodun, 'f', aged 55, on January 17, 2024 at approximately 11:00 pm at Ilere, located on Ijare Road in Akure within the Akure Magistratal District. This is in violation of Section 357 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Vol. 1 Laws of Ondo State, Nigeria, 2006."

"That you, James Emmanuel, 'M', murdered Deborah Abiodun 'F' on the same date, time, and location in the aforementioned Magistratal District by striking her on the head with a stone and disposing of her remains in a waste pit; thus, committing an offence contrary to Section 316 and punishable under Section 319 (1) of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Vol. 1 Laws of Ondo State, Nigeria, 2006."

The defendant was confined to the correctional centre in Ondo town per the order of Chief Magistrate F. A. Aduroja, who also postponed the trial until March 27, 2024.