MAN REMANDED IN PRISON CUSTODY FOR KEEPING WIFE’S CORPSE AT HOME

A 45-year-old man, John Ekundayo, has been remanded in Agodi Prison by an Ibadan magistrate’s court for refusing to bury his dead wife, Mrs. Bukola Alabede and keeping the corpse in his room.

Though there was no evidence that the accused mutilated the remains of his wife, Vanguard learned that the offensive odour of the corpse compelled the neighbour of the accused, who lives at NW2/403 to raise alarm that led to his arrest.

The accused was arraigned on a count charge of allegedly “offering indignity to the dead human body by abandoning her in his room.” According to the charge sheet, signed by DSP Sunday Unwanbueze, “the accused, on February 28, at about 6.30a.m, at NW2/403 Okebuyi compound, Idikan, Ibadan, did improperly or indecently interfere with or offer indignity to the dead human body of one Mrs. Bukola Alabede by abandoning her in your room apartment without lawful justification or excuse of deceased relatives and, thereby, committed an offence contrary to and punishable MI/323c/2017.” He pleaded not guilty.

 Chief Magistrate A. F. Ri-chard, granted him N100,000 bail with two sureties. The court said one of the sureties must be a relative and must be in possession of a National Identity Card.

 The second surety should be a Level 9 civil servant. At press time, the accused was unable to meet the terms given by the court for his bail and had to be taken into prison custody. The case was then adjourned to April 19 for proper hearing.