The Kwara State Government has formally arraigned five individuals in connection with the gruesome killing of Hafsoh Lawal, a final-year student of the College of Education, Ilorin. The suspects were brought before the Kwara State High Court on Monday.
Hafsoh was tragically murdered on February 10, 2025. Her dismembered body was allegedly discovered in the residence of the prime suspect, AbdulRahman Bello, located at the Offa Garage area in Ilorin. Bello was initially arrested by the police and taken to the Kwara State Police Command for questioning.
He was first arraigned before a magistrate’s court before the state government took over the case for more thorough prosecution.
In court yesterday, Bello and four other suspects—Ahmed Abdulwasiu, Suleiman Muhydeen, Jamiu Uthman, and AbdulRahman Jamiu—were arraigned on a five-count charge. The charges included conspiracy, unlawful possession of human body parts, draining the victim’s blood, and illegal possession of the deceased’s body parts.
All defendants pleaded not guilty.
Specifically, AbdulRahman Bello faces an additional charge of raping the deceased, a serious offense punishable under Section 283 of the Penal Code CAP P4 of Kwara State.
Senior Ibrahim, the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, led the prosecution. While all the other defendants had their own legal representatives, Bello was assigned a pro bono defense counsel.
Presiding Judge, Justice Hannah Ajayi, ordered that all the defendants be remanded at the Oke Kura Correctional Facility. The case was adjourned to May 7, 2025, for the commencement of trial.
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