An Ilorin magistrate’s court in Kwara State on Tuesday, February 18, ordered the remand of Abdurahman Bello and five other suspects at the Ilorin Correctional Centre for their alleged involvement in the killing of Hafsoh Lawal, a final-year student at the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin.
The suspects, including two self-acclaimed Islamic clerics, a phone repairer, and a farmer, were arraigned on charges of criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, possession of human parts, and armed robbery.
They were not represented by legal counsel during the court proceedings.
The four other suspects are Ahmed AbdulWasiu (41), Suleiman Muhyideen (28), Jamiu Uthman (29), and AbdulRahman Jamiu.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), the offences contravene Sections 97 and 221 of the Penal Code Law, Section 2 of the Kwara State Prohibition Law on Dealing in Human Parts (2018), and Section 1(2) of the Robbery and Firearms (Special Provisions) Act, CAP R11, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (2004).
The report stated that Bello, who claimed to be a cleric, allegedly carried out the crime alongside his co-accused for ritual purposes.
During police investigations, he reportedly confessed to the crime and implicated the other suspects, who were said to be part of the same occult group.
Further investigations by the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Ilorin revealed that the suspects had allegedly been involved in a syndicate responsible for the ritual killings of unsuspecting individuals in Kwara State.
The case was initially reported to the police on February 11, when the victim’s father, Adefalu Lawal Ibrahim, filed a complaint at the ‘C’ Division Police Station in Oja-Oba, Ilorin.
He stated that his daughter had gone to visit a friend celebrating the birth of a child but never returned home. After failed attempts to reach her by phone, he contacted the police.
Subsequent investigations led to the tracking of the victim’s phone, which was found in Bello’s possession, ultimately leading to his arrest.
The court has ordered the suspects to remain in custody pending further investigations. The case has been adjourned to a later date for further hearings.