An Ondo-based landlady, Cecilia Idowu, has been accused of killing her tenant in Akure and depositing his corpse inside a well. 

Mrs Idowu, 55, who was dragged before an Akure Division of the Chief Magistrates’ Court, was alleged to have killed one Stephen Haruna. 

The suspect was arraigned by the men of the Ondo Police Command on two counts charge of conspiracy and murder. 

Police prosecutor, Simon Wada, told the Chief Magistrates’ that the incident occurred at the Oke-Igbala area of Okeagbe Akoko in Akoko North-East LGA, Ondo, around 10:00 p.m. 

Mr Wada said that the suspect contacted others at large to commit the offence. 

According to him, the offence contravenes section 516 and 316 of the Criminal Code Law of Ondo State, 2022

He explained that an investigation by the police revealed that the suspect first gave Mr Haruna portions of ‘palm oil’ to drink, thereby resulting in his death. 

“My Lord, the woman (landlady) and the deceased were the only occupants of the house and she confessed to seeing him when he returned home by 10:00 p.m.

“A calabash filled with palm oil was found in the woman’s apartment,” the police prosecutor told the court. 

Mr Wada added that the corpse of the deceased was exhumed from the well after the suspect pointed to where his body was deposited. 

“The woman even had to invite some persons to assist her in throwing Stephen’s corpse inside the well in her compound,” he added. 

The police prosecutor noted that an autopsy carried out on the victim’s corpse revealed that he died after consuming excess palm oil. 

He, however, urged the court to remand the suspect at the Nigerian Correctional Centre at Olokuta in Akure, pending advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP). 

But, Adedeji Adedire, a counsel to the defendant, prayed the court for an adjournment to enable him file a counter affidavit to the application sought by the prosecutor. 

After much argument from the prosecutor and the defence counsel, Chief Magistrate Musa Al-Yunnus adjourned the case till October 31, for ruling on the remand application.