By Ayodele Popoola

Police operatives in Ondo State on Monday arraigned two persons before an Akure Chief Magistrate’s Court over the gruesome murder of a 34-year old farmer, one Silas Oladele.

The deceased was allegedly macheted to death in his cocoa farm at Oriota farm, Masole village via Kajola, in Ondo State.

The accused persons: Adewale Adelu, 39, and Saliu Rafiu, 30 were arrested and arraigned on two counts of conspiracy to commit felony and murder.

According to the prosecutor, Inspector Folashade Awana, the defendants and others at large committed the offence on March 8, 2025, at about 2pm, at Oriota farm, Masole village via Kajola, in the Ondo State Magisterial District.

Awana alleged that the defendants attacked the deceased, Oladele, while working on his cocoa farm and macheted him to death.

Awana said the deceased’s phone was found with the second defendant, Rafiu on the day of the incident who had blatantly denied that he had not seen him through that day.

According to the deceased’s wife, Comfort Oladele, the first defendant, Adelu sometime last year asked her out severally, and she reported it to the deceased which led to the arrest of the first defendant.

She added that Adelu, thereafter signed an undertaking that nothing would happen to her husband for 30 years.

The offence, according to the charge contrane Section 316, 319 and 324 of the Criminal Code, Cap, 37, Vol.1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.

The defendants’ pleas were not taken.

The prosecutor urged the court to remand the defendants at the correctional centre pending advice from the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP.

The defence counsels, T.A. Obalufon and Adelaja sought an adjournment to enable their clients to react to the application sought by the prosecution.

The Magistrate, Mrs. Olateju Odenusi-Fadeyi adjourned the case till March 28, 2025, for the hearing of the application and ruling.

He consequently ordered the remand of the defendant at the SCID, Akure.