A self-acclaimed 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, Ilorin, Hafsat Yetunde Adefalu Lawal.
The judgment, delivered on Thursday by Justice Hannah Ajayi of the Kwara State High Court, brought to a close one of the most shocking murder trials in the state’s recent history.
The trial began in February 2025.
Delivering her verdict before a packed courtroom, Justice Ajayi described the act as the “highest degree of human wickedness” and a clear case of premeditated ritual killing motivated by a desire for wealth.
The court held that Bello lured the victim to his residence at Olunlade area in Ilorin on February 10, 2025, killed her, and dismembered her body.
In a dramatic twist, four co-defendants – Ahmed Abdulwasiu, Suleiman Muhydeen, Jamiu Uthman, and Abdulrahman Jamiu- were discharged and acquitted of all five charges. The judge ruled that there was no evidence linking them to the crime.
Justice Ajayi dismissed Bello’s claims of a romantic relationship and intention to marry Hafsat as “concocted lies” meant to deceive the court.
She added that his behavior after the crime suggested it was not his first time committing such an act.
The court accepted the video and written confessions recorded by both the Department of State Services (DSS) and the police. The judge said they were in line with legal provisions, with no signs of torture or forced confession.
According to Justice Ajayi, a book on money-making charms found at Bello’s residence further supported the prosecution’s case, reinforcing the court’s belief in his ritualistic motives,
Bello was sentenced to death by hanging for culpable homicide. On the charges of possession of human parts and blood, he received 10 years imprisonment with an option of N100,000 fine or six months additional jail term. He was however acquitted of rape.
Justice Ajayi used the opportunity to caution the public, especially young people, on the dangers of social media interactions. She noted that the victim might still be alive had she informed her family or friends about her plans to visit someone she met on Facebook.
The case gained national attention following the arraignment of Bello and the four others on a five-count charge, including conspiracy to murder, possession of human parts, and draining human blood. Bello alone was directly accused of rape.
Initially, Bello pleaded guilty at the Magistrate Court and absolved the others of any involvement. However, he changed his plea at the High Court where all five pleaded not guilty.
Reacting to the judgment, the victim’s father, Mr Lawal, described the ruling as a welcome development.
He hailed the police, DSS, and other agencies involved in the case, saying it demonstrated what security operatives can achieve when they are committed.
In a chat with Daily Trust, he however, urged “Islamic clerics and madrasahs to focus on teaching beneficial knowledge rather than promoting superstitions and harmful practices”.
Peoples Pen24 had reported in February that Bello was arrested by the police following the discovery of Hafsat’s dismembered body.
He had planned to use her body parts for a ritual soap.
Bello had reportedly met Hafsat on Facebook. After several chats and calls, he lured her to his home on the pretext of friendship.
On February 10, Hafsat, who was attending a naming ceremony, abruptly left after receiving a call from Bello. Family members described her behavior as strange and possibly influenced by charm or hypnosis.
Following a missing-person report filed by her parents at Oja Oba Police Station, the police tracked her phone’s last incoming call to Bello’s residence at Garage Offa area of Ilorin.
Initially, Bello denied knowing her whereabouts.
He later claimed she had an asthma attack and died.
But further investigation revealed her body parts had been dismembered and stored in buckets.
Her wrists were found soaked in a bottle of alcohol, while other parts were dumped at a refuse site in Olunlade.
The father said he only recognized her daughter with the henna on her wrists.
Senior Islamic scholars in Ilorin condemned the murder and called for justice, especially as ritual killings have become a growing concern in the state.
The Kwara State Council of Ulama, led by the Chief Imam of Ilorin, Sheikh Mohammad Bashir Solih, condemned the killing and urged a thorough investigation.
“We insist the law must take its course. Anyone found guilty should be brought to book to serve as a deterrent to others,” Sheikh Solih said.
The council also cautioned against generalizing or stereotyping entire communities based on the criminal acts of individuals.
“Ilorin and Kwara State are not known for ritual killings. We are guided by Islamic values which totally reject such evil. Nigerians should not label communities unjustly,” they added.
The Council said it would soon organise a sensitisation programme for young clerics on proper Islamic propagation.
Emir Commends Judgement
The Emir of Ilorin and Chairman of the Kwara State Traditional Rulers Council, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari CFR, praised the court for delivering justice.
In a statement issued by his Press Secretary, Dr Abdulazeez Arowona, the monarch described Hafsat’s murder as “pathetic, unfortunate, and deeply troubling.”
He said the judgment has renewed public confidence in the judiciary and security agencies.
“The killing of Hafsat is one of the greatest evils on earth. We pray never to experience such again,” he said.
He also urged parents and guardians to be more vigilant with their children and wards to prevent such tragedies in the future.
(DAILYTRUST)
