Court remands couple over murder of 25-year-old
By Ayodele Popoola & Oghenemaro Eruteyan
A Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Akure, yesterday remanded a 33-year-old man, Happiness Anthony, and his lover, Blessing Abusomwan, 34, in Olokuta and Ondo Correctional Centres, for their alleged involvement in the death of a 25-year-old woman, Toye Awomailo.
The defendants who reside at Howlet Lane, Ifon town, are standing trial on two counts of conspiracy and murder.
Earlier, the prosecutor, Inspector Abdulateef Suleiman, told the court that the couple and others at large allegedly conspired to commit the offence on October 21, 2023, at about 9:30 am at Howlet Lane drainage, Ifon, Ondo State.
Suleiman alleged that the defendants killed the 25-year-old woman, Toye Awomailo, who was working with them, by hitting her with a bottle on her body which led to her death.
The offences, he said contravene Sections 316(1), 319(1), 324, of the Criminal Code, Cap 37, Vol. I, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.
The charges read in part, “That you, Anthony Happiness ‘m’, Blessing Abusomwan ‘P and others at large, on October 21, 2023, at about 9.50 am, at Howlet lane drainage, Ifon, in the Ondo State Magisterial District, did conspire to commit felony to wit: murder.
“That you, Anthony Happiness ‘m’, Blessing Abusomwan ‘F’ and others at large, on the same date, time and place, in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did unlawfully kill one Awomailo Tope ‘F’aged 25 years by hitting her with a bottle on her body which led to her death and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 316(1) and Punishable under Section 319(1) ofthe Criminal Code, Cap 37, Vol.I, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.”
The prosecutor, through a written application prayed the court to remand the defendant in Olokuta Correctional facility and Abusomwan in Ondo female centre, pending the outcome of advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions(DPP).
The defence counsel urged the court to refuse the prosecution application and gracefully admit the defendant to bail.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr N.T. Aladejana, who did not take the plea of the defendants, ordered their remands.
Aladejana said the two lovers should be remanded in Olokuta and Ondo Correctional centres respectively, pending legal advice from the state Director of Public Prosecution.
He adjourned the case till March 12, 2024 for mention.