Why others were freed as Abdulrahman, Hafsoh’s killer, sentenced to death in Ilorin
A Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin has sentenced 27-year-old Islamic cleric, Abdulrahman Bello, to death by hanging for the brutal murder of 24-year-old Hafsoh Yetunde Lawal, a final-year student of the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin.
The ruling, delivered by Justice Hannah Ajayi, marked a significant turning point in a case that shocked Kwara State and the nation earlier this year. But while Abdulrahman was convicted and condemned, four other individuals initially arrested and arraigned in connection with the killing were freed and acquitted, sparking public curiosity about how and why they were discharged.
The gruesome murder the shook Ilorin
Hafsoh Lawal was declared missing on February 13, 2025, after visiting Abdulrahman Bello at his residence in the Olunlade/Offa Garage area of Ilorin. Days later, her dismembered body parts were discovered, setting off a wave of outrage, grief, and calls for justice across Kwara and beyond.
Police investigations revealed chilling details: Abdulrahman, who had reportedly promised to marry Hafsoh, allegedly lured her to his home, strangled her to death, and proceeded to dismember her body. During his confession, he initially blamed asthma for her death, then claimed he panicked and mutilated the body to avoid consequences—a narrative the court dismissed as inconsistent and deceptive.
Why the other four were set free
Alongside Abdulrahman, four others were arrested and charged: Ahmed Abdulwasiu, Suleiman Muyideen, Jamiu Uthman, and Abdulrahman Jamiu. All five were initially paraded by the police and tried under Charge No. KWS/3C/2025 for conspiracy and murder.
However, the court found that only Abdulrahman Bello had direct involvement in the crime. During the trial, which lasted four months, prosecutors failed to present compelling evidence linking the other four men to the planning or execution of the murder.
According to the defense and findings by the court; No forensic evidence tied the others to the crime scene, the findings also noted that their confessions, if any, were not independently verified, and conclusively stated that there were no witness testimonies or material proof showing that they aided or abetted the murder.
In her judgment, Justice Ajayi ruled that the prosecution had failed to establish a case against the four co-accused beyond a reasonable doubt. She ordered their immediate release, affirming that justice must be based on facts, not assumptions or public pressure.
“He must hang”, Court’s verdict:
Delivering the verdict on Thursday, Justice Hannah Ajayi condemned Abdulrahman’s actions as “inhuman, cruel, and premeditated”. She described the crime as a “clear case of ritual killing” and emphasized that the convict showed no genuine remorse.
“The facts before the court clearly point to a deliberate and wicked act carried out in cold blood,” she said. “The accused person, Abdulrahman Bello, is hereby sentenced to death by hanging until he is dead.”
While the judgment has been widely welcomed by the public, Hafsoh’s family and women’s rights advocates continue to call for broader reforms in how gender-based violence and ritual-related killings are investigated and prosecuted in Nigeria.
