By Duchess Ifeoluwa

A 21-year-old carpenter, Anthony Alabi, has been remanded by a Magistrates’ Court in Akure over the alleged murder of a 58-year-old woman, Veronica Olaseni, in Ondo State.

The defendant was arraigned on a two-count charge bordering on murder and theft following the incident said to have occurred on March 2, 2026, at Iboropa-Akoko in Akoko North-East Local Government Area of the state.

Presiding Magistrate, Mrs Temitope Adurota, declined to take the plea of the defendant on the grounds that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter.

She subsequently ordered that the accused be remanded in custody pending legal advice from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Mrs Folashade Adebayo, told the court that the defendant allegedly committed the offence at about 2:30 p.m. on the said date while on the deceased’s farm.

According to the prosecution, the accused had gone to the farm with the intent to steal cashew nuts but attacked the victim after being recognised.

The prosecution alleged that he strangled the woman and subsequently took away her belongings.

Items reportedly stolen include an Infinix mobile phone valued at ₦150,000, a cutlass worth ₦10,000, and an ATM card belonging to Access Bank.

The charges, the court heard, are punishable under relevant provisions of the Ondo State Criminal Code Law.

The defendant, who was not represented by legal counsel at the proceedings, was said to have confessed to the crime.

Following the arraignment, the case file was forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions for further legal advice, while the matter was adjourned until June 6 for mention.