A High Court in Ilorin, the capital city of Kwara State, has sentenced a self-acclaimed Islamic cleric, Abdulrahman Bello, to death by hanging for killing Hafsoh Lawal, a final year student of the College of Education, Ilorin.
He was accused of killing and dismembering the body of a final-year student in connivance with four others.
‎Delivering her judgement on Thursday, Justice Hannah Ajayi, however, set free four other defendants and cleared them of any wrongdoing.
‎Charged on five counts, the judge started by exonerating the four out of the five defendants— Ahmed Abdulwasiu, Jamiu Uthman, Suleiman Muyideen and Abdulrahman Jamiu of any complicity and eventually declared them free of taking part in the death of the victim.
Justice Ajayi, who described the offence by the prime suspect as the highest degree of human wickedness and a cruel act, held that his defence in court showed he had a preconceived intention of killing the victim for money-making ritual purposes.
She equally held that the confession of love by the convict for the victim, with the intention to marry her, as stated in his defence, was a concocted lie to deceive the court.
Her Lordship further stated that the attitude of the convict after committing the crime and before his arrest by law enforcement officers suggested that it may not have been his first time engaging in such an act.
The court also held that video and written evidence taken by officers of the DSS and police from the convict duly complied with the laws of the state.
It also held that no evidence substantiated the convict’s claim of being beaten or sustaining bloodstains due to police brutality.
The judge added that the convict did not present himself as a witness of truth, “because all what he said to deny allegations against him were afterthoughts”. More so, a book containing secrets of money-making charms was found in his apartment.
Justice Hannah Ajayi, who took a moment while delivering the judgment to admonish members of the public — especially young adults — on the bad influence of social media, said the victim might have been alive if she had informed family, friends, or relatives of her movement or visit to a Facebook male friend before she was killed.
The incident occurred on February 10, 2025, at Olunlade Area of Ilorin, Kwara State. The case has since attracted significant public attention both within and outside the state.
Justice Ajayi found the convict guilty of being in possession of human parts and human blood and sentenced him to 10 years’ imprisonment, with an option of a ₦100,000 fine or a six-month jail term.
The court, which freed the convict of the rape charge, however, found him guilty of killing and dismembering the body of the victim and thus sentenced him to death by hanging.
The convict and four others who have now been discharged were accused of conspiring to engage in the removal of her body parts, draining her blood, and being in possession of human parts and blood.
The five-count charge includes:
COUNT ONE: That you Abdulrahman Bello, Ahmed Abdulwasiu, Suleiman Muhydeen, Jamiu Uthman, and Abdulrahman Jamiu on or about 10th February, 2025, at Olunlade Area, Ilorin, Kwara State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired to commit an illegal act, to wit; conspired to cause the death of one Hafsat Yetunde Adefalu and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code, CAP. P4, Laws of Kwara State 2006.
COUNT TWO: That you Abdulrahman Bello, Ahmed Abdulwasiu, Suleiman Muhydeen, Jamiu Uthman, and Abdulrahman Jamiu on or about 10th February, 2025, at Olunlade Area, Ilorin, Kwara State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, committed an illegal act, to wit: caused the death of one Hafsat Yetunde Adefalu, then dismembered her body and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 221 of the Penal Code, CAP. P4, Laws of Kwara State 2006.
COUNT THREE: That you Abdulrahman Bello, Ahmed Abdulwasiu, Suleiman Muhydeen, Jamiu Uthman, and Abdulrahman Jamiu on or about 10th February, 2025, at Olunlade Area, Ilorin, Kwara State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired to commit an illegal act, to wit: conspired to engage in the removal of human parts; found in possession of human parts; engaged in the draining of human blood and found in possession of human blood, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 9 and punishable under Section 12(a) of the Kwara State Prohibition of Dealing in Human Parts Law, Laws of Kwara State, 2018.
COUNT FOUR: That you Abdulrahman Bello, Ahmed Abdulwasiu, Suleiman Muhydeen, Jamiu Uthman, and Abdulrahman Jamiu on or about 10th February, 2025, at Olunlade Area, Ilorin, Kwara State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, committed an illegal act, to wit: you engaged in the removal of human parts; found in possession of human parts; engaged in the draining of human blood and found in possession of human blood, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 7(a)-(d) and punishable under Section 12(a) of the Kwara State Prohibition of Dealing in Human Parts Law, Laws of Kwara State, 2018.
COUNT FIVE: That you Abdulrahman Bello on or about 10th February, 2025, at Olunlade Area, Ilorin, Kwara State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, committed an illegal act, to wit: you raped one Hafsat Yetunde Adefalu and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 283 of the Penal Code, CAP. P4, Laws of Kwara State.
A tragic reminder of how trust misplaced online can lead to devastating consequences. Justice has been served, but public awareness — especially among young people — about online safety and the need for openness with family is more urgent than ever.