Hafsoh’s Murder: Emotion Runs High, Audience Watches In Horror As Dismembered Body Recovery Video Shown in Court * Prime suspect, Abdulrahman appears in court head shaven, clutches prayer beads * Witness reveals how he attempted to bribe police in bid to escape 

By Omowumi Omotosho

Emotion gripped the courtroom 4 of the Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin on Monday, as morbid video showing the recovery of Hafsoh Yetunde Lawal’s dismembered body from a dumpsite was played before the the court.

The father of the deceased, Ibrahim Lawal Adefalu, struggled to hold back his emotions as he and other family members watched in anguish. The disturbing footage brought the courtroom to a near standstill, with many visibly shaken by the sheer horror of what had been done to the 24-year-old lady.

The suspects, including Abdulrahman Bello, the alleged mastermind and his four accomplices, were present in Court as the trial resumed before Justice Hanah Ajayi. Security personnel escorted the accused into the courtroom at approximately 9a.m.

Unlike his last appearance in court, Abdulrahman hair was shaved and he was seen with Tesbih (prayer bead) muttering prayer during the proceedings.

The session began with the prosecuting council’s witnesses led by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Kwara State, Barrister Senior Sulyman, giving testimonies.

The first witness, Dr. Olaleke Folahanmi, a pathologist from the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH), testified that “On the 9th of April, 2025, I received a letter from the police along with body parts to determine whether they were human remains”

He continued: “I proceeded to conduct a postmortem examination on the body parts brought by the police. A report was then compiled, detailing each body part and the condition in which it was received. The report was handed over to Inspector Kamaldeen on April 11, 2025.”

A foul smell took over the court’s air as Folahanmi identified Hafsoh’s dismembered body part in a plain rectangular container with blue cover, which he had done a postmortem examination on. He also before the court, identified the postmortem report he filed for the police.

There were no objections from the defence counsel, including Barrister Chukwudi Maduka (counsel to the 1st defendant), Barrister A.O. Oseni (counsel to the 2nd and 4th defendants), and M.A. Yusuf (counsel to the 3rd defendant).

During cross-examination, Barrister Maduka asked the Folahanmi: “Were you present at the scene when the items were recovered? Were you aware of which items were recovered from which suspects’ houses?” Of which the witness simply replied: “No”

He also inquired if the doctor was duly certified to practice as a specialist pathologist. The witness replied that he holds a certificate of West African College of Physicians (WACP) which is qualifies him to practice as a specialist pathologist in West Africa.

Justice Ajayi then admitted the postmortem report as evidence before the court.

The second witness, Sergeant Moses of the Kwara State Police Command, C Divison, Oja-Oba, Ilorin confirmed that he could identify the prime suspect, Abdulrahman Bello. He recounted the chain of events that led to the arrest of Abdulrahman Bello.

“On the 11th of April, 2013, at about 18:00hrs, Mr. Adefalu Ibrahim Lawal of No. 17 Adefalu Compound, Oju-Ekun, Ilorin, came to C Division, Oja-Oba, and reported that his 24-year-old daughter, Hafsoh Yetunde Lawal, went for a naming ceremony on February 10th, 2025 and never returned.

“He said her phone kept ringing without response. The case was later referred to the DCP’s office, and I was detailed to investigate. We advised the complainant to initiate phone tracking,” Moses narrated.

He added: “By February 13th,2025 around 3:00 p.m., tracking analysis showed that Abdulrahman Bello was the last person to call Hafsoh. On February 14th, I arrested Bello at Isale Koto, Ilorin. He initially denied wrongdoing but later confessed, that he killed her for ritual purposes.'”

According to Moses, Bello attempted to bribe him to remain silent.

“While being escorted with a search warrant, Bello asked me to pull over and speak privately. He then confessed to killing Hafsoh and offer to bribe me, so i can remain silent. Immediately, I informed other officers who were with me and we cuffed him,” he said.

Moses further stated: “When we arrived at his residence in the Olunlade area, we found Hafsoh’s slippers, two phones, blood-stained cutlass and knife, dismembered hands in a paint bucket preserved with alcohol, and jazz.”

Moses further mentioned that after the initial confession, Bello led the police to a dumpsite in Olulande. However, the site had been cleared by the Ministry of Environment.

“With the help of the ministry of Environmental, we were led to another dumpsite in Okolowo, where we recovered more dismembered parts,” he said.

I made a video recording of the recovery, and the footage was later transferred to a CD and submitted as evidence.”

The video was played before the court, with Moses identifying the recovered exhibits which included hands, blood-stained cutlass, knife, table, two hands soaked in alcohol.

The third witness, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), from the State Criminal Investigation Department, corroborated the previous testimonies.

“After the suspect confessed, we visited the original dumpsite in Olulande. Upon finding it evacuated, environmental officials directed us to Kwara state dumpsite in Makee, along Okolowo Expressway. With the help of scavengers, we uncovered parts of Hafsoh Lawal’s body,” the ASP said.

“I documented the recovery process on video. These recordings were transferred to CDs and presented as evidence in court.”

Likewise, through a video, the DSP also identified Hafsoh’s dismembered body parts that were recovered at Makee dumpsite along Okolowo Expressway, Ilorin.

The Attorney General of Kwara State who led the prosecuting council, Barrister Senior Sulyman pleaded to the court that the dismembered body of the deceased be released to the family for proper burial. This plea was duly approved by the court.

Justice Hanah Ajayi there adjourned the case to May 21st, 2025 as she stated that the court is interested in the quick delivery of judgment on the case.

The Attorney-General of Kwara State who led the prosecuting counsel, Barrister Senior Sulyman, pleaded to the court that the dismembered body of the deceased be released to the family for proper burial. This plea was duly approved by the court.

Justice Hanah Ajayi thereafter adjourned the matter to May 21st, 2025, stating that the court is interested in the quick delivery of judgment on the case.