The Court of Appeal in Ilorin has upheld the death sentence for self‑styled cleric Abdulrahman Bello over the murder of his lover, final‑year student Hafsoh Yetunde Lawal.
Lawal was killed on February 10, 2025, in the Olunlade area of Ilorin — a case that sparked wide public outrage. Bello and four others were first charged with conspiracy, murder, unlawful removal and possession of human parts and blood. Bello alone also faced a rape charge, from which he was later acquitted at trial.
A three‑member panel led by Justice Gabriel Omoniyi Kolawole unanimously dismissed Bello’s appeal on Thursday, saying the prosecution proved beyond reasonable doubt that he murdered the student and unlawfully had human parts. The court upheld the Kwara State High Court’s sentence: death by hanging for murder and an extra 10‑year jail term for unlawful possession of human parts.
The appellate court said there was no merit in the appeal and that the trial court had properly weighed the evidence. The prosecution team included the Kwara State Attorney General, Senior Ibrahim Sulyman, Chief State Counsel Issa Zakari and Assistant Chief State Counsel B.L. Abdulsalam.
The ministry called the ruling a milestone. “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 statement read. “It also reaffirms the principle that persons found guilty of grave offences, after a fair trial, will be held accountable under the law.” “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.”
Bello still retains any further rights of appeal.
The appeal followed a July 2025 High Court verdict by Justice Hannah Ajayi, who called the crime “the highest degree of human wickedness,” saying it was a “premeditated and cold-blooded act.” The judge rejected Bello’s claim that he loved Lawal and meant to marry her, noted his conduct after the crime and a book on money‑making charms found in his home, and admitted video and written confessions obtained by DSS and police. Bello was cleared of rape but convicted of murder and unlawful possession of human parts; the court also discharged and acquitted the four others — Ahmed Abdulwasiu, Suleiman Muhydeen, Jamiu Uthman and Abdulrahman Jamiu.
The Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu‑Gambari, called the killing “pathetic, unfortunate, regrettable and worrisome,” and said the judgment had “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.” He urged parents to watch their children closely to prevent a repeat.
