The Kwara State High Court in Ilorin has sentenced an Ilorin based Islamic Cleric, Abdulrahman Bello to death by hanging for the brutal murder of Hafsoh Lawal, a final-year student of the College of Education, Ilorin.
While delivering the judgment yesterday, Justice Hannah Ajayi found Bello guilty of killing the young woman for ritual purposes and the trade in human body parts.
She described the murder as a cruel and wicked act, stating that the evidence clearly proved that Bello lured Hafsoh to his home under false pretenses, pretending he loved her and intended to marry her.
“The confession of love and plans to marry her were concocted lies to lure the victim to his residence. The killing was cruel, wicked, and an extreme display of human wickedness,” the judge said.
Justice Ajayi, however, discharged and acquitted four other defendants — Ahmed Abdulwasiu, Jamiu Uthman, Suleiman Muyideen, and Abdulrahman Jamiu — citing a lack of evidence linking them to the crime.
According to court findings, the crime took place on February 10, 2025, in the Olunlade area of Ilorin. Bello had invited his girlfriend Hafsoh to his home, where he had sexual relations with her before killing and dismembering her body.
During investigation, police recovered disturbing evidence in Bello’s room, including the victim’s palm, a bottle filled with blood, her personal belongings, and a cutlass used in the murder. Other decomposing body parts were later found at a nearby dumpsite.
Justice Ajayi concluded the case by sentencing Bello to death by hanging.