Alleged Rituals: Court arraigns woman, 6 others with 11 human skulls, 29 bones in Ilorin
By Kayode Adeoti
A High Court, sitting in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, on Friday, arraigned one middle-aged woman, Aishat Yinusa for allegedly trading in human parts for rituals.
Other suspects who were arraigned over the crime before Justice Durosinloun Kawu were; Azeez Yakubu, Lukman Saka, AbdulGaniyu Bamidele, Ahmed Yahaya, Saliu Ayinde and Abdurasak Babamale.
Brought to court with the suspects were 11 human skulls, 11 lower jaw bones, bunch of hair and 29 pieces of bones.
The first witness, Sgt. Muhammed Kamaldeen who works at the department of Homicide, CIID, was led in evidence by the prosecutor, Barr. Abdulmumini Adebimpe Jimoh.
He testified that on October 5, 2018, a case of criminal conspiracy and selling of human parts was transferred from Adewole Police Division to his office.
He added that the first accused person, Yakubu, 11 human skulls, bones and human hair were brought to the station for investigation adding that he recorded the exhibits as well as obtaining the statement of the accused.
Speakig further, he said the exhibits were sent to the University Teaching Hospital (UITH) for medical examination to determine if they are genuine human bodies.
According to him, the items were received at the hospital and after thorough examination; they were confirmed by Dr Kazeem Ibrahim to be human parts.
Counsel to the first accused person, Popoola Taiwo objected the admissibility of the items on the ground that it was not certified by a qualified medical personnel.
Also praying against the admissibility of the item is S.K Hassan who claimed that the hospital examination report is not genuine and that it has been altered.
The judge in his short ruling noted that the alteration did not affect the fact contained in the report saying he was satisfied with it even as he overruled the submissions of the two counsels while the items were admitted and marked as exhibits.
The second witness, Matthew Omotosho, informed the court that he was part of the team that arrested the first accused person.
He said, “When we got to his residence, (Yakubu) he was not at home, so, his house was surrounded by police. Due to intelligent gathering, we learnt that he was at Anifowose; we moved there and he was arrested. We brought him to his house at sOke-Are.
“He confessed to the heinous crime, and took us to where those skulls and other human parts were kept. They were all brought out.
Also witnessing before the court is a member of Vigilance group, Fatai Adedoyin who said he knows the first accused person very well and that he was part of those who retrieved the human parts on his roof.
Adedoyin was cross examined and so far, three out of five persons have witnessed in the case.
The trial judge, therefore, adjourned the matter to 8th May, 2019 for continuation of hearing.
