An Akure Magistrates’ Court on Friday ordered that a 17-year-old cook, Phillip Emmanuel, be remanded at Olokuta Correctional Centre for allegedly killing his 54-year-old boss, Debbie Iyabo Adene.

The late Adene, a well-known caterer in Akure, was found dead inside her apartment after not being seen for several days following her birthday.

Magistrate Kolawole Aro held that probable cause had been established to remand the defendant at Olokuta Correctional Centre pending advice from the office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP), as requested by the prosecution.

“Sequel to the prayer of the prosecution and the defence counsel, with the evidence before the court, the court holds that there is probable cause to remand the defendant at Olokuta Correctional Centre pending DPP advice,” Aro stated.

Phillip, who is facing a three-count charge of conspiracy to commit a felony, murder, and theft, allegedly committed the offence on 25 July 2024 at about 5 pm, behind Okiki Jesu Petrol Station, Oda Road, Akure.

The police prosecutor, Taiwo Oniyere, told the court that the defendant conspired with others still at large to kill Iyabo Adene, who was his boss.

The defendant was also alleged to have stolen the sum of N60,000 from the GTB account of the deceased.

The charge read in part: “That you, Phillip Emmanuel, ‘m’ on 25 July 2024, at about 5 pm, beside Okiki Jesu Petrol Station, Oda Road, Akure, in the Akure Magisterial District, did conspire with others to commit a felony, to wit, murder.

“That you, Phillip Emmanuel, on the same date, time, and place, in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did machete one Iyabo Adene to death with a cutlass.

“That you, Phillip Emmanuel, did steal the sum of sixty thousand naira (N60,000) from the GTB account of the late Iyabo Adene.”

The offences, according to the charge, contravened Sections 390(1), 324, and 319 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 37, Vol. 1, Law of Ondo State, 2006.

The court did not take the plea of the defendant due to a lack of jurisdiction.

The prosecutor approached the court with an application to remand the defendant in a correctional centre pending legal advice from the office of the DPP.

Magistrate Aro granted the prosecution’s prayer, ordering the defendant’s remand in the correctional centre.

He ordered the case file to be duplicated and sent to the DPP for advice, and adjourned the case till 31 October for mention.