The prime suspect in the murder of a final-year female student of the Kwara State College of Education, Abdulrahman Bello, has admitted in court to dismembering the victim’s body after consuming alcohol but denied killing her.
Testifying before Justice Hannah Ajayi at the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin, Bello claimed that the deceased, Hafsoh, died from an asthma attack during sexual intercourse.
He stated that he had stepped out to buy an inhaler and returned to find her dead. In panic, he said, he drank alcohol and later used a knife and cutlass to dismember her body.
He told the court that his co-defendants had no involvement in the act and that he acted alone.
The weapons used were recovered from his apartment in the Olunlade area of Ilorin by police investigators.
Under cross-examination by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Bello admitted he did not alert neighbours, contact the police, or seek medical help, citing fear of the victim’s father.
However, he denied allegations of ritual intent or keeping the victim’s body parts for money-making purposes.
He also told the court he was tortured into making confessional statements in a police video, including claims that he poisoned the victim’s food and strangled her.
The defence counsels requested seven days to file their written addresses, while the prosecution asked for ten days following their submission.
Justice Ajayi granted the requests and adjourned the case to July 2, 2025, for final adoption of addresses.
Reporting by Ali Rabiu