A Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin has sentenced one AbdulRahman Bello to death by hanging for killing a final year student of the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin, Hafsoh Lawal.
In her judgement yesterday on the celebrated case, Justice Hannah Ajayi described the gruesome murder of Hafsoh as the highest degree of human wickedness.
The judge, however, discharged and acquitted four other accused: Ahmed Abdulwasiu, Suleiman Muyideen, Jamiu Uthman and Abdulrahmon Jamiu.
Bello and four others were first arraigned before an Ilorin Magistrate’s Court for the murder of Hafsoh on February 18, 2025.
The accused were arraigned on a three-count charge of criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, possession of human parts and armed robbery.
In the police First Information Report (FIR), the offences contravened sections 97 and 221 of the Penal Code, section 2 of Kwara State (Prohibition Law) of dealing in human parts Law 4 of 2018, and section 1(2) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provision) Act CAP R11 Law of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
Justice Ajayi held that Bello’s defence showed that he had a preconceived intention of killing the victim for money-making ritual.
She added that the confession of love by the prime suspect for the victim, with the intention to marry her, as said in his defence, was all a concocted lie to deceive the court.
The judge also said that the convict’s attitude after committing the crime and before his arrest by law enforcement officers showed that it might not have been his first time engaging in the act.
The court also held that the video and written evidence taken by the officers of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the police from the convict duly complied with the state law.
It also held that no evidence showed or substantiated the beating of the convict or the blood stain sustained due to police torture, while the judge said that Bello did not show himself as a witness of truth, “because all that he said to deny allegations against him were afterthoughts. More so, a book containing the secrets 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, especially young adults, on the evil influence of social media, said the victim might 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.
LEADERSHIP recalls that the incident occurred on February 10, 2025, at the Olunlade Area of Lorin, the state capital.
Justice Ajayi, who found the convict guilty of being in possession of human parts and human blood, also sentenced him to 10 years’ imprisonment with the option of a 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.
