A man and two other accomplices have been arrested and charged to court for burying his 3-year old brother’s son alive for money making ritual.
The incident happened in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, southwest Nigeria.
The man, Amidu Jimoh, 25, was arrested along with the herbalist, John Joseph, 60, who allegedly told him to carry out the dastardly act, along with another suspect, Maliki Aderounmu, 27.
After they were charged before an Ibadan Chief Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, they were remanded in prison custody.
The three accused persons were arraigned on a two-count charge of conspiracy and murder. Specifically they were accused of burying alive a three-year old boy for ritual purpose.
The police prosecutor, Inspector 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 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 24 July 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 till 16 September for mention.