By: Mercy Folunsho
Ilorin-based Islamic cleric, Abdulrahman Bello, has been sentenced to death by hanging for the brutal murder and dismemberment of a final-year student of the Kwara State College of Education, Hafsat Lawal by a Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin.
The crime, which occurred on February 10, 2025, at the Olunlade area of Ilorin, attracted widespread public outrage and media attention.
Bello was convicted for killing the 24-year-old student, dismembering her body, and possessing human parts and blood, in what the court described as a premeditated act and culpable homicide motivated by ritual intentions.
In her judgment delivered today, Justice Hannah Ajayi described the crime as “the highest degree of human wickedness and cruelty.”
She dismissed the cleric’s claims of romantic intentions toward the victim as “concocted lies” intended to mislead the court.
Although Bello was charged alongside four others: Ahmed Abdulwasiu, Suleiman Muhydeen, Jamiu Uthman, and Abdulrahman Jamiu, the court discharged and acquitted them, citing a lack of evidence linking them to the heinous crime.
The judge noted that his post-crime behaviour suggested Bello might not be committing such an act for the first time.
She also ruled that the confessional video and written statements obtained by the Department of State Services, DSS and the police were lawfully acquired, dismissing claims of torture or coercion.
The court also sentenced the accused to Ten years in prison with an option of One hundred thousand Naira (N100,000) fine or an additional six-month jail term for possession of human parts and blood.
He was, however, acquitted of the rape charge, as the prosecution failed to establish that count beyond reasonable doubt.
There was a resounding cheer at the courtroom when the verdict was pronounced.
However, the convict, who looked emaciated, wore an expression of indifference as he muttered inaudible comments after the judgement was read and interpreted to him in Yoruba.
Meanwhile, Justice Ajayi also used the occasion to warn young people about the dangers of social media, emphasizing that the victim might have survived if she had informed friends or family members of her movements, particularly regarding meeting a Facebook acquaintance.
The five-count charge against the accused included conspiracy to murder, actual murder, conspiracy and possession of human parts, and rape.
Speaking with newsmen, counsel to the family of the late Hafsat Lawal, Folorunsho Hussain, stated that the judgment was well delivered, with clear and convincing evidence properly established against the convict.
However, all efforts to get the reaction of the convict’s legal team proved unsuccessful, as they declined to speak to the newsmen.
Uncle of the late Hafsat, Mallam Abubakar Lawal, expressed satisfaction with the verdict, noting that the family had always trusted the competence of the court to deliver justice.
The five count charge include:
COUNT ONE: That you ABDULRAHMAN BELLO, AHMED ABDULWASIU, SULEIMAN
MUHYDEEN, JAMIU UTHMAN and ABDULRAHMAN JAMIU on or about 10th February, 2025, at Olunlade Area, llorin, Kwara State, within the Jurisdiction of this Honorable 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. c/2025
COUNT TWO: That YOU ABDULRAHMAN BELLO, AHMED ABDULWASIU, SULEIMAN
MUHYDEEN, JAMIU UTHMAN and ABDULRAHMAN JAMIU on or about 10h February, 2025, at Olunlade Area, Ilorin, Kwara State, within the Jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, committed an illegal act, to wit: cause 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, llorin, 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, lorin, Kwara State, within the Jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, committed an ilegal 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, llorin, Kwara State, within the Jurisdiction of this
Honorable Court, cormmitted 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.
