An Ibadan Chief Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday remanded in prison custody three accused persons for allegedly burying alive a three-year old boy for ritual purpose.
The accused persons–Amidu Jimoh, 25; Maliki Aderounmu, 27; and herbalist, John Joseph,60; were arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiracy and murder.
The Prosecutor, Insp Adewale Amos, told the court that the first two accused persons, Jimoh and Aderounmu conspired to embark on money ritual and solicited the assistance of Joseph.
The herbalist, a resident of Osunara village, Igangan, demanded for a child for the ritual.
Amos said Jimoh took away his brother’s son who lived in the same compound with him to about 20 metres from Bada’s Compound and buried him alive in a shallow grave.
The prosecutor said the burying of the boy alive by Jimoh caused his death,
He said Jimoh was arrested and he led the police to the scene of the alleged crime.
The incident occurred on July 24 at Bada’s Compound, Igangan, Ibadan.
Amos said the offence contravened sections 324 and 316 (6) and punishable under section 319 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 38, Vol. 11, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
The pleas of the three accused persons were not taken.
The Chief Magistrate, Alhaja Fatima Badrudeen, ordered the accused persons to be remanded in prison custody pending when the case file will be duplicated for legal advice.
She adjourned the case to September 16 for mention.