An Islamic cleric, Abdulrahman Bello, the prime suspect in the murder of Hafsoh Yetunde Lawal, a final-year student, stunned the Kwara State High Court, Ilorin, on Wednesday as he confessed to killing the victim for a money ritual.
Bello, who is standing trial alongside other alleged accomplices, confessed to a video recording tendered as evidence before the court. The court admitted the recording despite objections from the defence.
In the video, Bello admitted to carrying out the act alone and stated that he would not have killed Hafsoh if he had access to human body parts through other means.
The trial, presided over by Justice Hannah Olushola Ajayi, also featured the testimony of Inspector Ayodele Azeez from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID). He detailed the police investigation and the recovery of disturbing exhibits from the suspect’s residence.
“On February 14 2025, a case of murder and rape was transferred from Oja-Oba Police Division to the State CID,” Inspector Azeez told the court.
“The first defendant, Abdulrahman Bello of Olunlade, was found in possession of an axe, cutlass, charms, a table, a consultation book, a blood-filled container, a pair of slippers, and the severed hands of the victim.”
Azeez further stated that Bello voluntarily gave his statement in the presence of a legal representative, Barrister A.O. Ahmed, who was provided by the police after the suspect claimed he could not afford a lawyer. The statement was both handwritten and recorded on video and later transferred to a compact disc, tendered as evidence.
The defence counsel, Barrister Agbede, objected to the admissibility of the video, alleging that Bello had been coerced into the confession. However, Justice Ajayi overruled the objection and admitted the evidence, ordering that the video be played in open court.
Inspector Azeez also informed the court that the police had arrested Bello’s known associates using his call records, which indicated regular communication with the co-defendants before and on the day of the murder.
“All five suspects are connected,” Azeez said. “The second defendant is Bello’s teacher, the third is the teacher’s student, while the third and fifth defendants are close friends of the first defendant.”
The court was adjourned for recess at 11:32 a.m., with proceedings scheduled to resume later in the day.
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