Ilorin appeal court affirms the conviction and death sentence of Abdulrahman Bello for the murder of student Hafsoh Yetunde Lawal

The Court of Appeal sitting in Ilorin has upheld the death sentence imposed on self-acclaimed Islamic cleric Abdulrahman Bello for the murder of Hafsoh Yetunde Lawal, a final-year student of the Kwara State College of Education, bringing fresh legal closure to a case that shocked Kwara State and the wider country.

Also read: Young Ilorin cleric, AbdulRahman Bello sentenced to death for girlfriend’s brutal murder

The unanimous decision, delivered by a three-member panel led by Justice Gabriel Omoniyi Kolawole, dismissed Bello’s appeal and affirmed the judgment of the Kwara State High Court, which found him guilty of murdering Lawal and unlawfully possessing human parts.

The Bello Death Sentence was upheld after the appellate court ruled that prosecutors had proved beyond reasonable doubt that Bello committed the offences for which he was convicted.

The court also affirmed the additional 10-year prison sentence imposed for unlawful possession of human parts, holding that the trial court had properly evaluated the evidence before reaching its conclusions.

Lawal was murdered on February 10, 2025, in the Olunlade area of Ilorin, a crime that sparked widespread grief and outrage across Kwara State.

Bello and four other defendants were subsequently arraigned on charges including conspiracy, murder, unlawful removal and possession of human parts and blood. Bello alone also faced a rape charge, but he was acquitted of that count during the trial.

The prosecution before the Court of Appeal was led by the Kwara State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Senior Ibrahim Sulyman, alongside Chief State Counsel Issa Zakari and Assistant Chief State Counsel B.L. Abdulsalam.

Reacting to the judgment, the Kwara State Ministry of Justice described the ruling as an important affirmation of the state’s criminal justice system.

“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.

“It also reaffirms the principle that persons found guilty of grave offences, after a fair trial, will be held accountable under the law.”

The ministry added that the appellate court’s decision would further strengthen public confidence in the justice system.

“The affirmation of the conviction and sentence represents another milestone in the administration of criminal justice and reinforces public confidence in the rule of law and the appellate process.”

Despite the ruling, the ministry acknowledged that Bello retains the constitutional right to pursue any further appeal available under Nigerian law.

The appellate decision follows the July 2025 judgment of the Kwara State High Court, where Justice Hannah Ajayi sentenced Bello to death by hanging after finding him guilty of murdering and dismembering Lawal.

Delivering the trial judgment, Justice Ajayi described the killing as “the highest degree of human wickedness” and characterised it as a “premeditated and cold-blooded act.”

The trial judge rejected Bello’s claim that he intended to marry the deceased, describing the assertion as an afterthought aimed at misleading the court.

Justice Ajayi also held that Bello’s conduct after the killing suggested the offence may not have been isolated, noting that investigators recovered a book on money-making charms from his residence, which formed part of the prosecution’s evidence.

The High Court further ruled that both the video and written confessional statements obtained by operatives of the Department of State Services and the police were voluntarily made and properly admitted in evidence, dismissing Bello’s allegation that he had been tortured into making the confessions.

While acquitting Bello of the rape allegation, the court convicted him of murder and unlawful possession of human parts.

It also discharged and acquitted the four co-defendants, Ahmed Abdulwasiu, Suleiman Muhydeen, Jamiu Uthman and Abdulrahman Jamiu, after finding that the prosecution failed to establish their involvement in the offences.

Following the High Court verdict, the Emir of Ilorin and Chairman of the Kwara State Traditional Rulers Council, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, described the killing as tragic and commended 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 urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant and pay closer attention to the activities and movements of their children and wards to help prevent similar tragedies.

Also read: Ilorin court remands cleric over alleged ritual killing of student

The Appeal Court’s ruling represents another significant step in the legal process surrounding one of Kwara State’s most disturbing murder cases in recent years, while reinforcing the judiciary’s role in reviewing convictions and ensuring that criminal proceedings are conducted in accordance with the law.