Metro
Kwara Self-Acclaimed Imam Bags Death Sentence for Killing, Mutilating Female Student
A self-acclaimed Ilorin-based Islamic cleric, Abdulrahman Bello, accused of killing and dismembering the body of a final-year student of the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin, Hafsat Yetunde Adefalu Lawal, in connivance with four others, has been found guilty and 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 to the five-count charge case.
Justice Ajayi, who described the offence by the prime suspect as the highest degree of human wickedness and a cruel act, held that his defence in court showed he had a preconceived intention of killing the victim for money-making ritual purposes.
She also said that the confession of love by the prime suspect for the victim, with the intention to marry her, as stated in his defence, was a concocted lie to deceive the court.
The judge further stated that the attitude of the convict after committing the crime and before his arrest by law enforcement officers suggested that it may not have been his first time engaging in such an act.
The court also held that video and written evidence taken by officers of the DSS and police from the convict duly complied with the laws of the state.
It also held that no evidence substantiated the convict’s claim of being beaten or sustaining bloodstains due to police brutality. The judge said the convict did not present himself as a witness of truth, “because all what he said to deny allegations against him were afterthought”. More so, a book containing secrets of money-making charms was found in his apartment.
Justice Hannah Ajayi, who took a moment while delivering the judgment to admonish members of the public — especially young adults — on the bad influence of social media, said the victim might have been alive if she had informed 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 Ilorin, Kwara State. The case has since attracted significant public attention both within and outside the state.
Justice Ajayi found the convict guilty of being in possession of human parts and human blood and sentenced him to 10 years’ imprisonment, with an option of a ₦100,000 fine or a six-month jail term.
The court, which freed the convict of the rape charge, however, found him guilty of killing and dismembering the body of the victim and thus sentenced him to death by hanging.
It is recalled that Abdulrahman Bello and the four others were accused of conspiring and causing the death of Hafsat Lawal and dismembering her body.
They were also accused of conspiring to engage in the removal of her body parts, draining her blood, and being in possession of human parts and blood.
The prime suspect, Abdulrahman Bello, was solely accused of raping the deceased — an offence punishable under Section 283 of the Penal Code, CAP P4, Laws of Kwara State.
All five accused persons pleaded not guilty.
The five-count charge includes:
COUNT ONE: That you Abdulrahman Bello, Ahmed Abdulwasiu, Suleiman Muhydeen, Jamiu Uthman, and Abdulrahman Jamiu on or about 10th February, 2025, at Olunlade Area, Ilorin, Kwara State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable 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.
COUNT TWO: That you Abdulrahman Bello, Ahmed Abdulwasiu, Suleiman Muhydeen, Jamiu Uthman, and Abdulrahman Jamiu on or about 10th February, 2025, at Olunlade Area, Ilorin, Kwara State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, committed an illegal act, to wit: caused 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, Ilorin, 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, Ilorin, Kwara State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, committed an illegal 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, Ilorin, Kwara State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, committed 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.
A middle-aged woman, Christine Chika Anyanwu, who was paralysed for one year, has shared the incredible story of how she miraculously regained the use of her legs.
Anyanwu who lives in the United Kingdom gave her testimony at Zion Ministry, Okota, Lagos, last Wednesday. She disclosed that her problem started on March 26, 2025, when she collapsed at work in London and became unconscious, and was later diagnosed with functional neurological disorder.
After four months of admission in the hospital, she was discharged to continue treatment from home. She suffered several falls and multiple seizures at home and damaged her spine, and this compounded the problem. She was confined to a wheelchair for one year, with all the medical specialists she consulted in the United Kingdom saying she was unlikely to walk again.
Anyanwu said she was on the verge of giving up on life, but decided to make one final effort by heeding her mother’s counsel to seek for God’s intervention at Zion Prayer Movement Outreach in Lagos. Despite discouragement from siblings and a Catholic Nun who warned her not to go to Zion, and against the advice of her doctors not to travel over a long distance in her condition, she embarked on the trip to Lagos.
It was at last Wednesday’s Adoration programme of the ministry, that the Spiritual Director, Evangelist Chukwuebuka Anozie Obi, who noticed the woman confined to a mobility scooter, conducted a deliverance and prayer session for her.
What followed threw the auditorium into a frenzy as Anyanwu who had neither used her legs not stood up from her wheelchair got up from the scooter and started walking. When she returned to share her testimony, her siblings and the Nun who advised her against going to Zion Ministry now joined in celebrating her healing.
As part of efforts to ensure a transparent recruitment of 50,000 police constables, the Police Service Commission (PSC) has co-opted the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) as a critical partner in the screening process.
Head of Protocol and Public Affairs at PSC Headquarters, Abuja, Torty Njoku Kalu, said in a statement on Thursday that the decision was jointly taken during a high-level stakeholders’ meeting convened by the PSC in Abuja.
According to him, this forms part of the final preparations for the physical and credentials screening stage of the recruitment exercise, scheduled to commence on Monday, March 9, 2026, at designated locations across all 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
Chairman of the Police Service Commission, DIG Hashimu Argungu (rtd.), commended the PCRC for its relentless sacrifices and commitment to national security. He acknowledged PCRC’s tradition of investing personal resources in national security, and urged it to bring that same level of dedication to the recruitment process.
“The Commission is resolutely poised to ensure that only the finest and most credible Nigerians wear the uniform of a police constable. An effective police force is built on the quality of its recruitment,” DIG Argungu stated.
“This is why we have called upon you, the PCRC, and other stakeholders to serve as the guardians of this process.”
He charged the PCRC state chairmen to work with PSC officials, state employment and career departments, as well as the NPF State Intelligence Department (SID), to scrutinise applicants.
Their mandate includes verifying character traits to prevent individuals with questionable backgrounds from infiltrating the Force.
Responding on behalf of the PCRC National Chairman, Alhaji Ibraheem Olaniyan, the Deputy National President (North), Amb. Wada Sadiq, expressed profound gratitude to the PSC for the confidence reposed in them.
He pledged the Committee’s full support in selecting credible Nigerians for the Force.
The Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu, has reportedly removed Benjamin Hundeyin as the Force Public Relations Officer (PRO) and replaced him with a new appointee, though the name hasn’t been officially announced.
Hundeyin was previously serving as the Lagos Command PRO before being promoted to the national role.
This move comes as part of Disu’s efforts to revamp the Nigeria Police Force and improve its public image.
As the 23rd IGP, Disu has emphasized professionalism, accountability, and transparency, warning officers that there will be no tolerance for misconduct or abuse of power.
