The grieving family of Hafsoh Lawal, a final-year student of the Kwara State College of Education brutally murdered in February, has appealed to the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin to release her remains for proper Islamic burial.
The appeal was presented by the Kwara State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Senior Ibrahim Sulyman, during the continuation of the trial of five suspects charged in connection with the murder.
The lead suspect, Abdulrahman Bello, is facing charges alongside four others for conspiracy and homicide.
During Monday’s court session, the lead defence counsel, Mr. Chukwudi Maduka, who is representing Bello, raised no objections to the family’s request.
He also extended his condolences, acknowledging the family’s pain.
The hearing saw the testimony of three additional witnesses – two police investigators and a pathologist from the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Dr. Olaleke Folaranmi.
According to investigators from the ‘C’ Division, Oja Oba, and the State CID, the first defendant, Bello, voluntarily confessed to the crime.
They said he led police officers to his apartment, where some body parts were recovered, and later to two separate dumpsites in Olunlade and Okolowo-Eyenkorin where additional remains were discovered.
“By the time we got to the dumpsite, the body parts had already been moved by refuse collectors,”;; one of the CID officers testified. “A scavenger eventually led us to where they were dumped, and the suspect confirmed they were the deceased’s remains.”;;
The prosecution also presented a video recording showing the recovery of body parts from Bello’s apartment. Despite opposition from the defence team, the court admitted the footage along with its certificate of compliance as evidence.
Another witness, Sergeant Moses, testified that Hafsoh was reported missing on February 11. He explained that Bello became a prime suspect after phone records showed he was her last known contact. Upon searching Bello’s residence, police found Hafsoh’s personal belongings, blood-stained weapons, charms, and human body parts soaked in gin. He also alleged that Bello attempted to bribe officers during the investigation.
Dr. Folaranmi, the pathologist, confirmed through autopsy that the remains were human and consistent with those of Hafsoh. His findings were submitted to the court as Exhibit P17.
Presiding Judge, Justice Hannah Ajayi, denied a bail application filed by the defence, describing it as a distraction. She assured the court that the matter would be handled with urgency and adjourned the case to May 21, 2025, for continuation of the hearing.
