A High Court in Ilorin, Kwara State, has ordered the release of the remains of Hafsoh Lawal, a final-year student of Kwara State College of Education, to her family for burial in accordance with Islamic rites.
Justice Hannah Ajayi granted the order on Monday following a request by the state’s Attorney General, Senior Sulyman, who is leading the prosecution in the ongoing murder case involving five suspects. He urged the court to allow the burial, noting it would bring peace to the victim’s soul. The defence did not object.
The five accused Abdulrahman Bello, Ahmed Abdulwasiu, Suleiman Muhydeen, Jamiu Uthman and Abdulrahman Jamiu are standing trial for conspiracy, murder and illegal possession of human parts. Bello, the prime suspect, faces an additional charge of rape.
At the latest hearing, three more witnesses testified, including two police officers and a pathologist from the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital. The police said Bello led them to locations where Hafsoh’s dismembered body parts were found, including a dumpsite near the Okolowo Eyenkorin expressway.
The court also admitted video evidence showing the recovery of the body parts in Bello’s apartment. The defence objected but the court ruled in favor of its inclusion.
Sergeant Moses, one of the investigators, told the court that Bello was the last known contact with Hafsoh before she went missing on February 11. He allegedly confessed to the crime, tried to bribe officers and led them to evidence including the victim’s belongings, blood stained weapons, charms and human parts soaked in gin.