By Ayodele Popoola
An Akure Magistrates’ Court has ordered the remand of a 49-year-old timber contractor, Ademoluyi Adekunle, in the correctional centre for allegedly threatening to kill his wife, Oluwatosin Adekunle, with a cutlass.
Adekunle is also alleged to have violated a court order prohibiting him from approaching the complainant’s premises until the determination of the case of assault and threat to life filed against him in the same court on 6 August 2024.
The police re-arraigned the defendant on three counts: breach of peace, assault, and violation of a court order.
The prosecutor, Taiwo Oniyere, told the court that the defendant, on 11 August, at about 8:30 pm in the Idewo area of Ijoka, Akure, conducted himself in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace by chasing his wife, Oluwatosin, with a cutlass.
The defendant is alleged to have assaulted the complainant by delivering a fist blow to her.
Oniyere further stated that the defendant disregarded the order of Akure Magistrates’ Court 6 not to visit the complainant’s house.
According to the prosecutor, the offence contravenes Sections 239, 355 and 133 of the Criminal Code Law of Ondo State, 2006.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The prosecutor requested an adjournment to enable him to assemble his witnesses and prepare for the trial.
The defence counsel, Solomon Eguji, requested that the court grant his client bail on the most liberal terms, stating that the defendant did not visit the complainant at her residence but in her vicinity.
The prosecutor, however, objected to the bail application, arguing that the defendant’s disregard for the court order demonstrated disrespect.
“To safeguard the complainant’s life, the court should deny the defendant’s bail application. If granted bail, the defendant may intimidate witnesses in this case and further assault the complainant.
“The defendant, who had previously undertaken not to go near his wife’s premises, disobeyed this order. I urge the court to reject the bail application,” Oniyere said.
Magistrate T.O. Olusola-Olujobi ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Ondo correctional centre until the next adjournment.
The matter was adjourned until 12 October 2024.