A High Court in Ilorin, Kwara State, has sentenced a 29-year-old self-styled Islamic cleric, Abdulrahman Mohammed Bello, to death by hanging for the ritual murder of Hafsah Yetunde Lawal, a 24-year-old final-year student of the Kwara State College of Education.
Justice Hannah Olushola Ajayi, found Bello guilty of conspiracy, murder, and unlawful possession of human parts, following his arrest and confession to the killing which occurred on February 10, 2025.
Hafsah had disappeared after attending a naming ceremony in Ilorin.Her disappearance was traced to Bello, who was discovered to be the last person she contacted.
A later search of his residence led to the recovery of human remains, a container of blood, an axe, a cutlass, and other suspected ritual items.
The court maintained that the killing was premeditated, noting that Bello lured the victim under false pretenses before taking her life.
Prosecutors presented multiple evidences, including a recorded confession, call logs, and physical exhibits, all of which were admitted by the court.
Bello initially confessed to the crime, he later claimed the statement was made under duress and alleged that the victim died from an asthma attack during a sexual encounter.
He denied mutilating her for ritual purposes.
Justice Ajayi rejected the explanation, citing the weight of evidence against him.
The court discharged and acquitted four co-defendants. Ahmed Abulwasiu (41), Sulaiman Muhyideen (28), Jamiu Uthman (29), and AbdulRahman Jamiu (31)due to insufficient evidence connecting them to the crime.
In her verdict, Justice Ajayi decried the disturbing trend of ritual-related murders in the country, adding that the judiciary would not hesitate to apply the full force of the law in similar cases.
