Abdulrahman Bello, the prime suspect in the alleged murder of a final year student of Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin, Hafsoh Lawal and four other suspects have pleaded not guilty to the 5-count charge brought against them.
Bello and the other suspects—Ahmed Abdulwasiu, Suleiman Muhydeen, Jamiu Uthman, and Abdulrahman Jamiu—were yesterday arraigned before a Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin.
LEADERSHIP reports that Hafsoh was allegedly brutally murdered by Bello on the 10th of February, 2025.
Bello and the four others were accused of conspiring and causing the death of Hafsoh Lawal and dismembering her body.
They were also accused of conspiring and engaging in the removal of her body parts, draining her blood and being in possession of human parts and blood.
The prime suspect, Bello, is solely accused of raping the deceased, an offence punishable under Section 283 of the Penal Code CAP P4, Laws of Kwara State.
All five suspects pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them in court.
While all the suspects had legal representatives, Abdulrahman Bello, the prime suspect, is being represented on a pro bono basis.
The Kwara State’s attorney general and commissioner for justice, Ibrahim Sulaiman, led the prosecution team.
In her ruling, Justice Hannah Ajayi ordered that the suspects be remanded at the Oke—Kura correctional facility in Ilorin until May 7, 2025, when the proper hearing will begin.
