A 55-year-old woman identified as Cecilia Idowu has been arraigned before an Ondo State Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Akure, for allegedly killing his tenant, one Stephen Haruna with palm oil, after which she threw him inside the well.
The Hope Metro gathered that Celilia, a landlady to the 26-year-old deceased was arrested in her compound on the day she committed the dastardly act.
Stephen’s corpse was reportedly found in a narrow well in front of her house.
The incident occurred between 10:00 p.m and 4:00am at Oke-Igbala Street at Oge area,Okeagbe, Akoko.
The police arraigned the suspect on two counts of conspiracy and murder, which she entered a non guilty plea.
Police prosecutor, Simon Wada, told the court that the woman conspired with others at large to commit the offence
Wada said the suspect killed Stephen by giving him palm oil to drink in the midnight, which resulted to his death.
He also alleged that thereafter, the woman invited some people to assist her throw Stephen’s corpse inside the well in her compound.
“My Lord, the woman and the deceased were the only occupants of the house and she confessed to seeing him when he returned home by 10:00pm.
“A calabash filled with palm oil was found in the woman’s apartment ” Wada told the court.
The police, however, said they were yet to ascertain the motive behind the murder of Stephen, as to know why and how the deceased drank the oil and while he was thrown inside the well
It was gathered that an autopsy report showed that the tenant died after consuming excess palm oil.
Wada said the offence contravene Section 516 and 316 of the Criminal Code Law of Ondo State, 2022
The prosecutor, in an application urged the court to remand the accused at the Olokuta Correctional Centre, Akure pending the insurance of advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions
The defence counsel, A. Adedire prayed the court for an adjournment to enable him file a counter affidavit to the application sought by the prosecutor.
However, Chief Magistrate Musa Al-Yunnus adjourned the case till October 31 for ruling on remand application.
