An Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrates’ Court has ordered the remand of a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Olajiga Banji (63), his wife, Olajiga Victoria (57) and aughter, Olajiga Sikemi (31), at the Ado-Ekiti Correctional Centre for alleged murder and negligence.
The defendants, whose addresses were not given, are facing two-count charge of murder and negligence, having been alleged to masterminded the killing of seven-year-old Demilade Fadare.
The police prosecutor, Inspector Bamikole Olasunkanmi, told the court, on Friday, that the defendants committed the offence on 6 December, 2021 at the Adehun Area of Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
Olasunkanmi alleged that the defendants committed an offence of murder and negligence, leading to the death of 7-year-old girl, Demilade Fadare.
He said, according to the father of the deceased, after searching for Demilade who went to buy pap for their breakfast on the fateful day, he reported at the police station that the body of his daughter was found in a cooler in their neighbour’s house, with traces of her blood.
The police prosecutor alleged that Sikemi, who was said to be mentally ill, murdered the girl while her parents, Mr and Mrs Olajiga, were charged for neligence.
According to Inspector Olasunkanmi, the offence contravened Section 319(1) and 343 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.
The prosecutor urged the court to remand the defendants in a correctional centre pending issuance of legal advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).
The pleas of the defendants were not taken as the Chief Magistrate, Mr Michael Faola, ordered their remand in the correctional centre pending, issuance of legal advice and adjourned the case till 10 January, 2022 or mention.
