Court remands pastor for killing, burying lover in church

The founder of Holy Garden Ministry Zion C and S Church, identified as Tobiloba Ipense has been remanded in prison on the orders of an Ifo Magistrates’ Court sitting at Ifo, Ogun, for the murder of his lover.

The detention of Ipense who allegedly killed his lover, Raliat Sanni, and buried her remains near the church’s altar was ordered by the Magistrate, Mr. S.M. Banwo, pending the release of legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.

Reports say the suspect was arrested on March 26 when the victim Sanni (mother of five children) was reported missing by her brother, Adebola Saheed, after she left for the suspect’s church on March 21 and did not return home.

After his arrest and interrogation, the suspect confessed to have killed the victim and buried her remains in his church after he had cut off her head and two hands.

Read also: Lawyer who murdered husband remanded in prison

The charges against the suspect read in part, “That you, Tobiloba Ipense, Oluwakemi Ishola and others now at large, on March 21, 2018, around 11.30pm, at Elebute village, via Itori, in the Ifo Magisterial District, did conspire among yourselves to commit felony, to wit: murder.

“That you, Tobiloba Ipense, and others now at large, did kill one Raliat Sanni, by slaughtering her and cutting off her head and two arms.

“That you, Tobiloba Ipense, and others now at large on March 27, 2018, around 7.30am, were found in possession of a human head and two arms of Raliat Sanni, inside the church, Holy Garden Ministry Zion C and S Church.”

The offences committed by Ipense who was charged on three counts of murder and possession of human parts were punishable under sections 324, 319 and 328 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State, Nigeria 2006 according to the police prosecutor.

Before adjourning the case till July 27, 2018 for legal advice, the presiding judge ordered that Ipense be remanded in the Oba Prison pending the release of DPP advice.

 

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