A mortuary attendant with the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Mr. Muritala Raimi was on Monday ordered to be remanded in Agodi Prisons, Ibadan for allegedly stealing a human skull, among the corpse kept in his work place. Raimi, 57, was arraigned on a two-count charge of stealing and misconduct.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the offence when he appeared before Magistrate Akanni Monsurat.

Although the court granted the accused bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum, one of who must be a member of the family, the accused was yet to meet his bail conditions as at the time of filing this report.

It was alleged that the accused was arrested after he had allegedly decapitated the remains of the yet to be identified corpse.

He was said to have concealed the decapitated head in a bag and attempted to move out when he was caught by security guards on duty.

When it dawned on him that his secret deal had been blown open, he allegedly attempted to run away but was later rounded up by the police and taken to Yemetu Police Station, Ibadan before he appeared at the court.

The charge sheet signed by a Superintendent of Police, Adeniyi Odebiyi, reads in part: “That you Muritala Raimi, aged 57, on the 15th May, 2017 at about 05: 30pm at UCH Ibadan in Ibadan magisterial district did steal human skull inside UCH mortuary and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 3 of the criminal code cap 38 vol. 11 laws of Oyo State of Nigeria.

“That you Muritala Raimi on the same date, place in the aforementioned magisterial district did misconduct with regard to corpse by decapitating a corpse deposited at UCH mortuary and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 242 of the criminal code cap cap 38, vol. 11 laws of Oyo State”.

The matter was later adjourned to May 5, 2017 for further hearing.