Kwara govt takes over Facebook killer-lover case

The Kwara State government yesterday declared its intention to take over the prosecution of AbdulRahman Bello, the cleric who allegedly killed Yetunde Hafsoh Lawal, a final-year student of the State College of Education, for ritual purposes.

The defendant pleaded for the other individuals arrested with him to be pardoned, claiming they were never part of the scheme that ultimately led to the death of his supposed girlfriend, Hafsoh.

A representative from Barrister Issa Zakare’s office informed the court that legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) had been issued and that the defendant (Bello) had a case to answer, leading to his subsequent proper arraignment at the High Court.

The counsel to the family of the deceased, Dr. Folorunso Ahmad Hussein, did not object to the Ministry’s application but pleaded for justice for the murdered girl and her family.

Magistrate Sanusi Muhammad adjourned the case to March 20 for further mention and ordered the defendant to be remanded at Oke-Kura Correctional Centre, Ilorin.

Speaking after the sitting, Dr. Folorunso Hussein summarized the proceedings, stating that the state ministry had sent a principal counsel to take over the case from the police prosecutor, and the application was granted.

“The counsel informed the court that the DPP’s advice has been released, and proper charges have been preferred at the High Court and filed, while parties were served with the charges on Thursday morning.

“In that regard, the magistrate would have no option but to terminate this case. However, since the defendants have not yet been arraigned at the High Court, the magistrate’s court must hold on to the suspects until their arraignment. Once they are arraigned at the High Court, the case here will be terminated. That is the rationale for adjourning the case until March 20 for further mention, pending their arraignment at the High Court.

“The reason behind this is that if this court releases them now, there would be a legal vacuum. Who holds them? By the time they are arraigned at the High Court, the High Court will order their remand. Then, the order of remand issued by the magistrate court will be quashed,” he said.

Folorunso also advocated for the signing of death warrants for capital offenses, stating that anyone convicted by law should face the appropriate punishment.

He urged governors across the federation to uphold the law by issuing death sentences for those who deserve it, claiming that such actions would provide relief to the public and the families of victims.

Meanwhile, as the defendant was leaving the court, he pleaded for the release of those arraigned with him, insisting they did not commit any offense as alleged by the police.

He admitted that he singlehandedly killed and dismembered the deceased.

The court, however, advised him to make such a request when he appears before the High Court.