The police in Ondo State have arraigned a 55-year-old woman, Cecilia Idowu, before an Akure Magistrate’s Court, for allegedly killing her tenant, Stephen Haruna, after which she dumped his corpse inside the well.
The incident occurred at Oke-Igbala Street at Oge area, Okeagbe, Akoko.
Police investigators are still unravelling the motive behind the killing. The victim reportedly died after he drank palm oil given to him by the suspect at night.
Witnesses said the landlady was arrested on the day she committed the crime after the victim’s corpse was found inside the well in front of her house.
Cecilia was arraigned on two counts charges of conspiracy and murder but she pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The police prosecutor, Mr Simon Wada, said the defendant conspired with others at large to commit the offences, saying she gave Haruna palm oil to drink at midnight, which resulted in his death.
He also informed the court that after the death of the victim, the defendant invited some people to assist her to throw his corpse in a 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.
He said the offence contravened Section 516 and 316 of the Criminal Code Law of Ondo State, 2022
Wada urged the court to remand the suspect at the Olokuta Correctional Centre pending legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
But lawyer to the suspect, A. Adedire, requested for an adjournment to enable him file a counter affidavit.
Presiding Magistrate, Musa Al-Yunnus, adjourned the case to October 31 for ruling on the remand application.
