Student Murder: 7 Suspects Plead Not Guilty In Kwara

Seven suspects standing trial in the alleged murder of a final-year female student, Mojisola Awesu, on Tuesday, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them before Justice Ibrahim Yusuf of the Kwara State High Court, Ilorin.

The trial judge had ordered that the suspects be remanded in a correctional facility during the last court session due to the absence of their counsel.

All the seven suspects involved in the alleged murder of Mojisola Awesu, a student of the Kwara State College of Health Technology, Offa, were all present in court on Tuesday.

The prosecution, led by the State director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Idowu Akande, had asked the court to go ahead with hearing on the matter after the defendants had pleaded not guilty, while the defence counsel argued that they were not prepared for hearing because the matter was adjourned for arraignment and not for hearing, at the last adjourned date.

Consequently, Justice Ibrahim Yusuf adjourned the case till March 12, 2025 for hearing.

Happiness Adebayo and Timileyin Kolawole are the prime suspects accused of conspiring and causing the death of Awesu Mojisola on August 9, 2024.

Happiness Adebayo and his parents, Adebayo Adeniyi and Bukola Adeniyi, were accused of conspiring and causing disappearance and destruction of evidence punishable under the Penal Code Law of Kwara State, 2006.

Adeoye Adeola, Lawal Aminat and Peter Bulus were accused of conspiring and dumping the corpse of Mojisola Awesu at a dumpsite along Warah Road in Ilorin, punishable under the Kwara State Prohibition of Dealing in Human Parts Law, 2018.