A Kwara State Magistrate Court sitting in Ilorin has adjourned the trial of an Islamic cleric, Abdulrahman Mohad (also identified as Mohammed A. Bello), and four others accused of allegedly killing Lawal Hafsoh Yetunde, a final-year student of Kwara State College of Education, for ritual purposes.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the adjournment was announced on Thursday when the defendants were brought before the Court by the Police for the continuation of the hearing.
During Thursday’s proceedings, the Kwara State Ministry of Justice declared its intention to take over the prosecution of Abdulrahman Bello and his alleged accomplices.
The Ministry’s legal representative, Barrister Issa Zakare, informed the court that legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) had been issued, affirming that Bello had a case to answer.
Zakare further stated that Bello would be formally arraigned before the High Court.
The counsel representing the family of the deceased, Barrister Hussein Folorunsho, did not oppose the Ministry’s application but insisted that justice must be served for Hafsoh and her family.
The Presiding Magistrate, Sanusi Muhammad, adjourned the case till 20th March, 2025 and ordered that the defendants remain in Okekura Custodial Centre.
It was earlier reported that the Nigeria Police Force arraigned Abdulrahman Mohad and four others for allegedly luring Hafsoh to her death under false pretenses.
The gruesome incident reportedly occurred on Monday, 10th February, 2025, after the student received a phone call while attending a naming ceremony and mysteriously disappeared.