Bello, Ilorin cleric to die by hanging for killing lover

Abdulrahman Bello, an Ilorin-based cleric has been sentenced to death by hanging for killing his lover. Justice Hannah Ajayi of the Kwara State High Court passed judgment on Bello on Thursday.

Bello had been standing trial for killing and dismembering Hafsat Yetunde Adefalu Lawal, his lover, a final year female student of the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin, in February 2025 at Olunlade Area of Ilorin.

Accused alongside Bello in the case which had garnered publicity and attention in Kwara State and beyond were four others, Ahmed Abdulwasiu, Suleiman Muhydeen, Jamiu Uthman and Abdulrahman Jamiu.

Accused alongside four others: Ahmed Abdulwasiu, Suleiman Muhydeen, Jamiu Uthman and Abdulrahman Jamiu;

While cleric Bello was sentenced to death, Justice Ajayi discharged and acquitted the four other accused persons in the trial of the five-count charge case.

The five count charge include: COUNT ONE: That you ABDULRAHMAN BELLO, AHMED ABDULWASIU, SULEIMAN

MUHYDEEN, JAMIU UTHMAN and ABDULRAHMAN JAMIU on or about 10th February, 2025, at Olunlade Area, llorin, Kwara State, within the Jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, conspired to commit an illegal act, to wit; conspired to cause the death of one Hafsat Yetunde Adefalu and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 97 of the Penal Code, CAP. P4, Laws of Kwara State 2006. c/2025

COUNT TWO: That YOU ABDULRAHMAN BELLO, AHMED ABDULWASIU, SULEIMAN MUHYDEEN, JAMIU UTHMAN and ABDULRAHMAN JAMIU on or about 10h February, 2025, at Olunlade Area, Ilorin, Kwara State, within the Jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, committed an illegal act, to wit: cause the death of one Hafsat Yetunde Adefalu, then dismembered her body and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 221 of the Penal Code, CAP. P4, Laws of Kwara State 2006.

COUNT THREE: That you ABDULRAHMAN BELLO, AHMED ABDULWASIU, SULEIMAN MUHYDEEN, JAMIU UTHMAN and ABDULRAHMAN JAMIU on or about 10th February, 2025, at Olunlade Area, llorin, Kwara State, within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, conspired to commit an illegal act, to wit; conspired to engage in the removal of human parts; found in possession of human parts; engaged in the draining of human blood and found in possession of human blood, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 9 and punishable under Section 12 (a) of the Kwara State Prohibition of Dealing in Human Parts Law, Laws of Kwara State, 2018.

COUNT FOUR: That you ABDULRAHMAN BELLO, AHMED ABDULWASIU, SULEIMAN MUHYDEEN, JAMIU UTHMAN and ABDULRAHMAN JAMIU on or about 10th February, 2025, at Olunlade Area, lorin, Kwara State, within the Jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, committed an ilegal act, to wit: you engaged in the removal of human parts; found in possession of human parts; engaged in the draining of human blood and found in possession of human blood, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 7 (a) – (d) and punishable under Section 12 (a) of the Kwara State Prohibition of Dealing in Human Parts Law, Laws of Kwara State, 2018.

COUNT FIVE: That you ABDULRAHMAN BELLO on or about 10th February, 2025, at Olunlade Area, llorin, Kwara State, within the Jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, cormmitted an illegal act, to wit; you raped one Hafsat Yetunde Adefalu and you thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 283 of the Penal Code, CAP. P4, Laws of Kwara State.

According to Justice Ajayi, the offence the prime suspect committed was the highest form of human wickedness and a cruel act.

“The defence was based on a preconceived intention to kill the victim for a money-making ritual,” the judge ruled.

“The prime suspect’s confession of love for the victim, with the intention to marry her as claimed in his defence, is a fabricated lie designed to deceive the court.

“The convict’s behaviour after committing the crime and before his arrest by law enforcement officers indicated that it might not have been his first time engaging in such acts.

“Moreover, a book containing secrets of money-making charms was found in his apartment.”

According to the judge, the video and written evidence taken by the officers of the DSS and police from the convict duly complied with the law of Kwara State.

Justice Ajayi, who found the convict guilty of possessing human parts and human blood, sentenced the acclaimed cleric to 10 years’ imprisonment with the option of N100, 000 fine or six months’ jail term.

The court, however, freed the convict of rape but found him guilty of killing and dismembering the victim’s body, thus sentencing him to death by hanging.