By Omowumi Omotosho
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A Magistrate Court in Ilorin became the scene of intense drama on Thursday as Abdulrahman Bello, the prime suspect in the gruesome murder of 24-year-old Hafsoh Lawal, a graduate of Kwara State College of Education, was brought before the court. Bello, alongside his alleged accomplices, arrived admist tight security at about 8:40 a.m., flanked by stern-faced, heavily armed security operatives.
The shocking nature of the crime drew a massive crowd to the court premises, with onlookers eager to witness the proceedings. Only a limited number of individuals were granted access to the courtroom, while journalists and other spectators hanged around within the court premises, hoping for glimpses of the high-profile case.
Abdulrahman (in the middle) with other suspects at the court on Thursday
Recall that Hafsoh Lawal was alledgedly murdered and dismembered in an act widely condemned as an unspeakable atrocity. The kwara state police after completion of its investigation, arraigned Bello in court along with four others: Ahmed Abdulwasiu, 41, of Zone C, No. 47, Adualere Area, Ilorin; Suleiman Muyideen, 28, a Neolife business person from No. 7 Adualere Area, Amilengbe Ilorin; Jamiu Uthman, 29, a phone repairer from Adualere Area, Ilorin; and Abdulrahmon Jamiu, 31, a farmer from Elemere Village near Malete Town in Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State.
The suspects are facing a three-count charge, including criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, possession of human body parts, and armed robbery.
The offence violate 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.
The court premises was tensed with emotions as the hearing which was preceded by Magistrate S.B. Mohammed, lasted for 26 minutes, during which the Principal Suspect Abdulrahman Bello, having no legal representation, while the other accused persons were legally represented.
Appearing on behalf of the Kwara State Government, Chief State Counsel Barrister Issa Zakari addressed the court, revealing that the State Attorney General, Barrister Ibrahim Sulyman, had provided legal advice on the matter saying: “All the suspects have case to answer. Charges have been served on them and we hereby request that the case be transferred to the State High Court for proper prosecution. ”
However, in an unexpected and dramatic turn of events, the suspect Bello raised his hand and requested permission to speak. The Magistrate granted his request, allowing him talk.
Following the Magistrate’s permission, Bello declared: “I want to say something ma, the remaining suspects didn’t know anything about the crime that I committed. I committed the crime all alone and I hereby appeal to this court to release them to go freely.”
The Magistrate then asked him to explain what happened the day of the crime, prompting Bello to narrate the sequence of events saying:
“When the deceased got to my house, she said she was hungry because she couldn’t wait to eat before coming to my house, I told her to cook but because of the hunger I decided to go and get food that both of us ate togther before we started romance and later had sex. But because God has destined that she will die that day, she died in the process”
“The only mistake that I made that day was that, instead of me to shout for help, I was nervous and I decided to pieces her body. After that, I packed the dismembered parts and dumped them in a public dustbin which the police have recovered some of them.
“The only part that was discovered in my house was her hands which I was yet to dispose because I was afraid and ran out of the house since the day of the incidence.”
When questioned on whether he had committed such an act before, Bello responded and I quote: “This is the first time, I have never done such a thing before, it was a spirit that entered and immediately it departed my body, I realised that what I did was bad. Please allow the remaining suspects to go back home freely.”
In her ruling, Magistrate S.B. Mohammed acknowledged that legal advice had been provided for the case to be transferred. She stated that Bello could make request for his co-accused at the High Court, which has the jurisdiction to try him alongside his alleged accomplices. She subsequently adjourned the case to Thursday, March 20, 2025, for further hearing.
After the ruling, onlookers who visited the court premises to witness the proceedings, booed Bello as they chant Yoruba abusive words; ” Ole, Alapata ” which mean ” thief, butcher” as the security operatives drove him away from the court premises back to the correctional centres in Oke Kura.
