6th March , 2025
Taiwo Ogunniyi
The Kwara State government has formally taken over the prosecution of AbdulRahman Bello, the cleric accused of killing Yetunde Hafsoh Lawal, a final-year student of the State College of Education, for ritual purposes.
During the court session in Ilorin, Bello pleaded for the release of the other suspects arrested with him, insisting they were not involved in the crime. However, a legal representative from Barrister Issa Zakare’s office informed the court that the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) had issued legal advice, affirming that Bello had a case to answer. This paved the way for his full arraignment at the High Court.
The counsel representing the family of the deceased, Dr. Folorunso Ahmad Hussein, did not object to the government’s decision to take over the case but stressed the need for justice.
Addressing journalists after the hearing, Hussein explained that the magistrate’s court would continue holding Bello until his High Court arraignment. “Once they are arraigned at the High Court, this case will be terminated at the magistrate’s court. If the lower court releases them now, there would be a legal vacuum,” he stated.
Hussein also called on state governors to sign death warrants for capital offenses, emphasizing that executing convicted offenders would serve as a deterrent. “Justice must be served. Governors should uphold the law to bring relief to families of victims,” he added.
As Bello was led out of the courtroom, he continued pleading for the release of the others arrested alongside him, maintaining that he acted alone in killing and dismembering the victim. The court, however, directed him to present his request at the High Court.
Magistrate Sanusi Muhammad adjourned the case to March 20 for further mention and ordered Bello’s continued detention at Oke-Kura Correctional Centre, Ilorin, pending his arraignment at the High Court.
