By: Ganiyu Olayinks
The Court of Appeal in Ilorin has affirmed the death sentence handed down to self-styled Islamic cleric Abdulrahman Bello for the murder of his lover, Hafsoh Yetunde Lawal, a final-year student of the Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin.
Lawal was killed on February 10, 2025, in the Olunlade area of Ilorin, a case that stirred widespread public outrage across Kwara State and beyond.
Bello and four others had originally been charged with conspiracy, murder, unlawful removal and possession of human parts and blood. Bello alone also faced a rape charge, of which he was acquitted at trial.
In a unanimous ruling delivered on Thursday, a three-member panel led by Justice Gabriel Omoniyi Kolawole threw out Bello’s appeal, finding that the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that he murdered Lawal and unlawfully possessed human parts.
The appellate court thereby upheld the Kwara State High Court’s judgment, which had sentenced Bello to death by hanging for murder and imposed an additional 10-year term for unlawful possession of human parts.
The panel found that the trial court had properly weighed the evidence and had been right to conclude that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, declaring that the appeal lacked merit and affirming both the conviction and the sentence.
The state’s case at the appellate level was led by Kwara’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Senior Ibrahim Sulyman, with Chief State Counsel Issa Zakari and Assistant Chief State Counsel B.L. Abdulsalam.
Responding to the verdict, the Kwara State Ministry of Justice called it another milestone in the state’s administration of criminal justice.
“The judgment underscores the commitment of the Kwara State Ministry of Justice and the judiciary to ensuring that criminal cases are determined strictly in accordance with the law and the evidence presented before the courts,” the ministry said, adding that it reaffirmed the principle that those found guilty of serious crimes after a fair trial would be held accountable.
The ministry said the ruling would further bolster public confidence in the justice system, while noting that Bello retains the constitutional right to pursue any further appeal available to him.
The appellate ruling follows the Kwara State High Court’s judgment in July 2025, in which Justice Hannah Ajayi convicted Bello of murdering and dismembering Lawal, describing the killing at the time as a premeditated, cold-blooded act reflecting the highest degree of human cruelty.
The trial judge rejected Bello’s claim that he loved Lawal and intended to marry her, ruling it an afterthought meant to mislead the court. Justice Ajayi also found that Bello’s conduct before his arrest suggested the crime may not have been his first, noting that a book on money-making charms recovered from his apartment lent further weight to the prosecution’s case.
The High Court also ruled that video and written confessional statements obtained by the Department of State Services and the police had been lawfully admitted as evidence, rejecting Bello’s claim that they were extracted through torture.
While clearing him of the rape charge, the court sentenced Bello to death by hanging for murder and handed down a 10-year prison term, with an option of a ₦100,000 fine, for unlawful possession of human parts. Four co-defendants; Ahmed Abdulwasiu, Suleiman Muhydeen, Jamiu Uthman and Abdulrahman Jamiu were discharged and acquitted after the court found the prosecution had failed to prove their involvement.
Following the trial court’s verdict, the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman of the Kwara State Traditional Rulers Council, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, described the killing as tragic and praised the judiciary for delivering justice.
“The gruesome murder of Hafsoh Yetunde Lawal was pathetic, unfortunate, regrettable and worrisome,” the monarch said. “The judgment has further brightened the hope and trust of the people in the judiciary and security agencies. May Almighty Allah repose the soul of the late Hafsoh Lawal and comfort her family members.”
The Emir also called on parents and guardians to more closely monitor the activities and movements of their children and wards to help prevent similar tragedies.