A Chief Magistrates’ Court has ordered the detention of a 36-year-old motorcyclist, Blessing Akinmade, who allegedly killed a 71-year-old farmer and buried his remains in a shallow grave.
The farmer, Toyo Olanipekun, was declared missing after he went to his farm in Igbobini in the Ese-Odo Local Government Area of the state. It was learnt that a search for the deceased began when he did not return from the farm and his corpse was eventually discovered in a shallow grave behind a primary school in the area.
He was said to have been killed while working on his farm in the area. The corpse was said to have had machete cuts which led to the arrest of the suspect. However, the state Police Command arrested Akinmade for allegedly killing the 71-yearold farmer, on his farm and buried him in a shallow grave over a land dispute between Irele and Igbobini communities.
Upon Akinmade arrest, the police arraigned him before an Akure Magistrate Court sitting at Oke-Eda over the alleged murder. Akinmade was brought to court on two counts including conspiracy and murder.
The police prosecutor, Abdulateef Sulaiman told the court that the defendant and others at large committed the offence on June 24, 2024, at about 9 am at Igbobini. The Prosecutor told the court that Akinmade unlawfully killed a 71-year-old man, Toyo Olanipekun, and buried him in a shallow grave.
The offences, according to the charge contravene sections 324, 316, 319 of the Criminal Code Law, Cap 7, Volume 1 laws of Ondo State, 2026. Sulaiman prayed the court to remand the defendant at the correctional center pending the issuance of advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP since the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the case. The Magistrate, Temilola Olusola-Olujobi, adjourned the case till July 8, 2024, for the parties to move their applications.