By Olufemi Oni, Ilorin
Abdulrahman Bello, an acclaimed Ilorin-based Islamic Cleric, accused of killing and dismembering the body of Hafsoh Yetunde Lawal, a 24-year-old final year student of the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin, has been sentenced to death by hanging.
However, Justice Hannah Ajayi of the Kwara state High Court, in her judgment on Thursday, discharged and acquitted Ahmed Abdulwasiu, Suleiman Muhydeen, Jamiu Uthman and Abdulrahman Jamiu; the four other accused persons in the trial, of any connection in the five-count charge case.
Justice Ajayi, who described the offence by the prime suspect as highest degree of human wickedness and cruel act, held that his defence in court showed that he had preconceived intention of killing the victim for money making ritual, dismissing the confession of love by the prime suspect for the victim with intention to marry her, as said in his defence, as only concocted lies to deceive the court.
The Judge also held that the attitude of the convict after committing the crime and before his arrest by the law enforcement officers showed that the incident might not have been his first time of engaging in the act.
The court also averred that the video and written evidences taken by the officers of the DSS and police from the convict duly complied with law of the State, adding that from available evidence, the convict did not show himself as a witness of truth, “because all what he said to deny allegations against him were afterthought”. More so, as a book containing secret of money making charms was found in his apartment.
Justice Hannah Ajayi, who took a moment out while delivering the judgment to admonish members of the public, especially young adults, on bad influence of social media, said the victim might have been alive today 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.
The incident occurred on February 10, 2025 at Olunlade Area of llorin, Kwara State while the case had attracted a lot of attention in and outside the State.
Justice Hannah Ajayi, who found the convict guilty of being in possession of human parts and human blood, sentenced the acclaimed cleric to 10 years imprisonment with option of 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.
It would be recalled that Abdulrahman 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.