Abdulrahmon Bello, the prime suspect in the alleged murder of Yetunde Lawal, a final year female student of the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin, has been remanded in custody at the Oke-Kura custodial centre.
Bello, a cleric, and five others were arraigned on a three-count charge of criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, possession of human parts and armed robbery.
A magistrate court in Ilorin, Kwara State capital, on Tuesday remanded the acclaimed Islamic cleric, who allegedly killed the student.
Magistrate Sanusi B. Mohammed, who presided over the matter, also adjourned the case till March 6, 2025.
The suspects were not represented by any defense counsel.
The offences are contrary to sections 97, 221 of the Penal Code Law, Section 2 of Kwara state (Prohibition Law) of dealing in human parts Law 4 of 2018 and section 1(2) of robbery and firearms (Special Provision) Act CAP R11 Law of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), Bello allegedly committed the crime with his co-accused as accomplices.
The co-accused persons are Ahmed Abdulwasiu, 41, Islamic scholar; Suleiman Muhyideen, 28; Jamiu Uthman, 29, and Abdulrahman Jamiu, 31, and others now at large.
The charge sheet read: “During the course of investigation at the State CID, Ilorin you, Abdulrahman Bello ‘male’ indicted and confessed to have done the act with the consent and knowledge of the following persons; Ahmed Abdulwasiu, Suleiman Muhyideen, Jamiu Uthman and Abdulrahmon Jamiu all ‘male’, who were all into the same occultic group and that led to their arrest.
“Investigation conducted at the State CID, llorin revealed that, you Abdulrahman Bello, Ahmed Abdulwasiu, Suleiman Muhyideen, Jamiu Uthman, Abdulrahmon Jamiu all ‘male’ and others at large, criminally conspired together in the killing of the victim for ritual
purposes and equally robbed her of her jewelries and other valuables.
“Further investigation conducted at
the State CID, Ilorin revealed that, you Abdulrahmon Jamiu, Ahmed Abdulwasiu, Suleiman Muhyideen, Jamiu Uthman, Abdulrahmon Jamiu all ‘male’ and others at large are the syndicate that have been killing unsuspecting citizens of Kwara state for rituals purposes.
“On 14-02-2025 at about 1400hrs, the above captioned case was
transferred from ‘C’ Divisional Headquarters, Oja-Oba, llorin and referred to Anti-Robbery Section, State CID, Ilorin for discreet investigation.
“That on 11-02-2025 at about 1800hrs, one Adefalu Lawal lbrahim ‘male’ of No. 17, Adefalu Compound, Oju-Ekun Area, lorin reported at ‘C’ Police Division Oja-Oba, llorin that on 10-02-2025 at about 1400hrs, his daughter by name Adefalu Hasfat Yetunde (female) left for her friend’s house who was having naming ceremony for her new baby at the same address.
“Thereafter, he discovered that his daughter did not return and her mother contacted some of her friends that went to the occasion together, but they responded that
she went to somewhere else from the occasion.
“At this juncture, he called her severally, but her phone rang
and no response. Hence, he reported the case to the police.
“The said phone was tracked and traced to one Abdulrahman Bello ‘male’ of opposite Rain oil, Majeasura, Olunlade Area, llorin which led to his arrest.
“Upon your arrest, you Abdulrahman Bello ‘male’ voluntarily confessed to have killed the said Adefalu Hasfat Yetunde ‘female’ and cut her body parts into pieces for ritual and your confessional statement led to the recovery of some parts of the victim’s body in your house, while some parts were also recovered where you dumped the parts.
“Investigation further revealed that you, Abdulrahman Bello ‘male’ robbed the deceased of her jewelries and other valuables which were recovered in your room.”
