Ilorin, Kwara State — May 6, 2025
Emotions ran high at the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin on Monday as police presented dismembered body parts of Hafsoh Lawal, a young woman allegedly murdered by her Facebook lover, AbdulRahman Bello, as evidence in court.
The courtroom, presided over by Justice Hannah Ajayi, was filled with an overpowering stench when police witnesses brought in human remains stored in a plastic container. The emotional weight of the moment led to tears from many present, including the father of the deceased, Ibrahim Lawal, who broke down as he was asked to identify his daughter’s severed hands.
AbdulRahman Bello, a self-styled cleric based in Ilorin, is facing trial alongside four other suspects for the alleged murder and dismemberment of Lawal, purportedly for money ritual purposes. Four out of the 16 witnesses scheduled for the trial testified during Monday’s session, with all five accused persons present in court.
Justice Ajayi, visibly moved by the father’s anguish, paused proceedings to offer prayers, asking God to console the grieving parent and bless his remaining children.
Father’s Testimony Reveals Tragic Timeline
Ibrahim Lawal, a teacher and resident of Oju Ekun, Ilorin, recounted the events leading up to his daughter’s disappearance. He said Hafsoh had attended a friend’s naming ceremony on February 10, 2025, after returning from work at a private school. She never returned home.
“Her mother noticed she was missing from the celebration. When we inquired, her friend Falilat said she had stepped out to meet someone and had not returned,” he told the court.
The next day, Lawal contacted family members and went to the Oja Oba police station, where officers advised them to authorize a call log tracking. By February 13, authorities traced the phone records to AbdulRahman Bello, who was subsequently arrested.
“At the police station, he confessed to killing my daughter,” Lawal testified through tears. “When we asked for her body for burial, he told us he had butchered her.”
According to Lawal, Bello led detectives to his house, where parts of Hafsoh’s body and personal belongings were recovered. “I identified her hands, her slippers, her phones. I had seen her doing the ‘lali’ hand design the day before.”
Police Present Gruesome Evidence
Two police witnesses presented the exhibits recovered during the investigation. These included two severed hands, a blood-stained centre table, a cutlass, axe, knife, a keg containing human blood, and a wooden box filled with black soap and charms. Phones belonging to the deceased and an exercise book containing records of alleged ritual practices were also submitted.
Yusuf Dauda, an officer with the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), confirmed he had registered the items submitted by Inspector Ayodele Azeez. During cross-examination, however, the defense pointed out that Dauda was not present at the crime scene and could not confirm the precise locations of the recovered items.
Inspector Mohammed, also from the CID, stated that the human remains were deposited at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) for preservation before being brought to court.
The case was adjourned to Monday, May 12, 2025, for continuation of trial.
