Pastor allegedly strangulates lover to death

An Osun Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ile-Ife on Tuesday, remanded one Pastor Joshua Ayobami, 47, over alleged strangulation of his woman friend to death.

The Prosecutor, Insp Elisha Olusegun, told the court that the accused committed the offence on Jan 11, 2017 around 1:45 am at Christ Evangelical Ministry Church, Fashina Area, Ile-Ife.

Olusegun said that the accused strangulated the neck of one Racheal Ajayi, which led to her death.

He added that the offence was contrary to and punishable under sections 316 and 319 (1) of the Criminal Code Cap 34 Vol 11, Laws of Osun, 2003.

The Presiding Magistrate, Mrs Risikat Olayemi, asked for the case file of the accused from the prosecutor, else the case would not be mentioned.

” I was informed this morning that the duplicate file has been retained with officer in-charge of legal(O.C. legal) in Osun state police command for onward transmission to the ministry of justice.

“However, I have the original case file in court,” he narrated to the court.

Olayemi ordered the prosecutor to inform O.C. legal to forward the case diary to ministry of justice today for legal advice.

Olayemi adjourned the case to March 9, for the report of the case note.

THE prosecutor told that the deceased and her husband were prison officers, who was dating the pastor after her husband’s death.

Also, Defence Counsel for the deceased family, Mr Samuel Judge, confirmed the report, saying after her husband’s gratuity was paid, pastor packed to Mr and Mrs Ajayi’s home and lived with late till death.

According to Judge, the pastor impregnated another woman in which he broght her to Ajayi’s house, added that late Ajay did the naming ceremony.

The defence counsel stressed that the deceased case was worsen to the extent of using firewood for clooking till her last day on earth, but nobody knows what transpired between them that led to strangulation to death.