The Ondo State Police Command has arraigned a man identified as James Sunday before a Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Akure, the state capital, for allegedly strangling a 42-year-old woman.
The 35-year-old defendant, who is a commercial motorcyclist, was arrested by policemen from the command on Ijoka Road, Akure, for committing the crime.
The deceased, Justinah Sunday, was said to be a friend of the suspect’s wife.
Sunday, who was arraigned on a one-count charge of murder, was alleged to have used a rope to strangle her.
The police prosecutor, Mr Taiwo Oniyere, informed the court that the defendant committed the offence on 13 March 2024, at 47, Ijoka Street, Ondo, within the Ondo State magisterial district.
Oniyere said the defendant unlawfully killed one Justinah Sunday aged 42, by strangling her neck with a rope, which led to her death.
The offence, he said, contravened sections 316 and 319 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 37, Vol. 1, Laws of Ondo State of Nigeria, 2006.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.
He told the court that he had known the deceased for nine to 10 years in Ile-Oluji town and met his wife through her. But his plea was not taken by the court.
Oniyere urged the court to remand the defendant at the Olokuta Correctional Centre, pending advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
The defence counsel, A. F. Falana, asked the court for a date to enable him to file a reply to the remand application.
The Chief Magistrate, T. O. Olusola-Olujobi, ordered the remand of the defendant in police custody and adjourned the case to 18 April 2024.
