Ayodele Popoola
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An Akure Chief Magistrates’ Court has ordered the remand of a 27-year-old labourer, Winma Chinecherem in the Ondo Correctional Centre for allegedly raping to death an 80-year-old woman, Felicia Aderibigbe.
Chinecherem appeared before the Court yesterday, on a one count of murder.
The police prosecutor, Nelson Akintimehin told the court that the accused committed the offence on May 17, 2023 at about 10: pm at Ago Erinje via Costian Ore, Ondo State.
It was alleged that Chinecherem tied the Octogenerian with cloth inside her cocoa farm and raped her to death.
According to charge, the offence contravenes Section 319 of the Criminal Law of Ondo State, 2006.
The court did not take the plea of the defendant.
The prosecutor prayed the court to remand the suspect in a correctional centre until a legal advice from the Office of the Director of the Public Prosecution is received.
The defendant in his statement read in the court denied being responsible for the woman’s death.
Chinecherem said he ignorantly picked the deceased’s phone and cutlass in the farm and took them to her house when he heard that his family members have started combing the forest for her, in order to inform them of her death.
Chief Magistrate Musa Al-Yunus remanded the accused at the correctional custody in Ondo for legal advice and adjourned the case till October 2, 2023.
Mrs Aderibigbe was reported missing on May 17, after she failed to return from her farm
The matter was reported at the Otu police divisional headquarters the following day.
The Octogenarian body was later found at the edge of her farm after several days of search by the community.
