Justice Hannah Ajayi of the Kwara State High Court on Thursday sentenced to death by hanging, an Ilorin based Islamic cleric, Abdulrahman Bello, for killing and dismembering the body of a final year student of the Kwara College of Education, Ilorin, Hafsoh Yetunde Lawal.
In her Judgement, Justice Ajayi ordered that the four other defendants in the case, Ahmed Abdulwasiu, Suleiman Muhydeen, Jamiu Uthman and Abdulrahman Jamiu be discharged and acquitted of any connection in the five-count charge case.
Describing the offence committed by the prime suspect as highest degree of human wickedness and cruel act, the Court held that his defence in court showed that he had preconceived intention of killing the victim for money making ritual.
She also said that the confession of love by the prime suspect for the victim with intention to marry her, as said in his defence, are all concocted lies to deceive the court.
The judge also said that attitude of the convict after committing the crime and before his arrest by the law enforcement officers showed that it may not have been his first time of engaging in the act.
The court also held that video and written evidences taken by the officers of the DSS and police from the convict duly complied with law of the state.
It also held that no evidence showed or substantiated beating of the convict or blood stain sustained due to police beating.
The judge said that the convict did not show himself as a witness of truth, “because all what he said to deny allegations against him were afterthought”. as a book containing secret of money-making charms was found in his apartment.
Justice Ajayi, who took a moment out while delivering the judgement to admonish members of the public, on bad influence of social media, said that the victim may have been alive if she had informed members of her family, friends or relatives of her movement or visit to a Facebook male friend before she was killed.
She said the incident occurred on February 10, 2025 at Olunlade Area of llorin, while the case had attracted a lot of attention in and outside the state.
Justice Ajayi, who also found the convict guilty of being in possession of human parts and human blood, sentenced the acclaimed cleric to 10 years imprisonment with option of N100, 000 fine/six months jail term.
The Court, which freed the convict of rape, however, found him guilty of killing and dismembering the body of the victim and thus sentenced him to death by hanging.
The prime suspect, Abdulrahman Bello was solely accused of raping the deceased, an offence punishable under section 283 of the Penal code CAP P4, Laws of Kwara state.
Expectedly, the state High Court was besieged by hundreds of people from all walks of life who have been monitoring the case including litigants and families of the convict and the victim.
