A 61 year-old pastor Adejare Adebayo has been remanded in Agodi Prison in Ibadan by a Magistrate Court for allegedly cutting off the left breast of his wife with a kitchen knife on the eve of the Christmas Day.

The court heard that the victim of the attack, Mrs. Risikayat Adegbule, 43, died a few days later as a result of the injury suffered during the attack which was recorded at Onikankan Village, on the outskirt of Ibadan.

The accused person, who is the pastor in charge of Glory Triumphant Chapel, Tose Area, Moniya, Ibadan, appeared before Chief Magistrate F. Richard on Monday and pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge.

He allegedly told a source that he helped his wife remove the breast because she had earlier had cancer in the right breast. He said the action was to prevent the spread of the disease to the left breast. A family source said Adejare took his late wife to an unknown place for several weeks before returning with the news of her death

According to the charge sheet marked Mc/26c/2017 and signed by the Prosecutor, Mr. Sunday Ogunremi, which was read to the accused person, it was alleged that the crime was committed in the midnight.

The charge sheet read, “That you Pastor Adejare Adebayo on 24 December, 2016 at 12 am, in Onikankan Village, Ibadan did unlawfully cause the death of Rukayat Adegbule aged 43 by cutting her breast, thereby committed an offence contrary to sec. 316 and punishable under vol.11 sec. 319 of the criminal code cap ix Vol. 11 of the Laws of Oyo State.

“Further investigation revealed that the family members of the deceased had been looking for her only to be called later by the husband informing them of her death.”

After ordering the pastor’s remand in prison custody, the Chief Magistrate adjourned the case to February 14, 2017.