The Ilorin-based Facebook killer-lover, Abdulrahman Bello, was on Thursday sentenced to death. He is to die by hanging.

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

The case had garnered a great deal of publicity and attention within the state and beyond.
Accused alongside four others: Ahmed Abdulwasiu, Suleiman Muhydeen, Jamiu Uthman and Abdulrahman Jamiu; Bello was sentenced to death by Justice Hannah Ajayi of the Kwara State High Court.

In her judgment on Thursday, Justice Ajayi discharged and acquitted the four other accused persons in the trial of the five-count charge case.

Justice Ajayi described the offence by the prime suspect as the highest form of human wickedness and a cruel act. She held that the defence was based on a preconceived intention to kill the victim for a money-making ritual.

She also stated that 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.
According to the judge, 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.

The court also held that video and written evidence taken by the officers of the DSS and police from the convict duly complied with the law of the state.
It also held that no evidence showed or substantiated the beating of the convict or blood stains caused by police beating, while the judge said that the convict did not present himself as a truthful witness, “because all what he said to deny allegations against him were afterthought”.

Justice Hannah Ajayi, who took a moment to admonish members of the public, especially young adults, about the negative influence of social media, stated that the victim might have survived if she had informed her family, friends, or relatives of her visit to a Facebook male friend before she was killed.

Justice Hannah 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.
It is recalled that Bello and the four others were accused of conspiring and causing the death of Hafsoh Lawal and dismembering her body.
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‎They were also accused of conspiring and engaging in the removal of her body parts, draining her blood and having human parts and blood.
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‎The prime suspect, Bello, was solely accused of raping the deceased, an offence punishable under section 283 of the Penal Code CAP P4, Laws of Kwara State.
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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.

Meanwhile, the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman of the Kwara State Traditional Rulers Council, Mai-Martaba Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, has praised the judgement, describing the case as pathetic, unfortunate, regrettable, and worrisome.

The emir, in a statement by his Press Secretary, Dr. Abdulazeez Arowona, noted: “The killing of Hafsoh is one of the greatest evils on earth, which we pray not to ever experience again.”

“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 late Hafsoh Lawal and comfort her family members,” he said, appealing to parents and guardians to be more vigilant and watch over their wards to curb the recurrence of such dastardly acts.