Abdulrahman Bello, an Islamic cleric and the prime suspect in the gruesome murder of Hafsoh Yetunde Lawal, a final-year student, shocked the courtroom on Wednesday as he openly confessed to killing the young woman to harvest her for a money ritual.

Bello, who is standing trial alongside others accomplices, made the confession in a video recording tendered as evidence at the Kwara State High Court, Ilorin.

However, in the video, he admitted to committing the act alone and stated that he would not have killed Hafsoh if he had access to human body parts through other means.

The chilling testimony formed part of the ongoing trial presided over by Justice Hannah Olushola Ajayi.

 The court also heard from Inspector Ayodele Azeez of the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), who detailed the police investigation and recovery of disturbing exhibits from Bello’s residence.

“On February 14, 2025, a case of murder and rape was transferred from Oja-Oba Police Division to the State CID,” Azeez testified.

“The first defendant, Abdulrahman Bello of Olunlade, was found in possession of an axe, cutlass, charms, a table, consultation book, blood-filled container, a pair of slippers, and the severed hands of the victim.”

According to the officer, Bello voluntarily gave his statement in the presence of a lawyer, Barrister A.O. Ahmed, who was provided by the police after Bello said he couldn’t afford one.

The statement was both handwritten and recorded on video, later transferred to a compact disk and submitted as evidence.
The defence counsel, Barrister Agbede, objected to the admissibility of the disk, claiming Bello was coerced, but Justice Ajayi ruled the evidence admissible and ordered the video to be played in court.

Inspector Azeez also testified that the police tracked and arrested Bello’s known associates using his call records, which revealed regular contact with the other defendants before and on the day of the murder.

“All five suspects are connected,” Azeez stated.

“The second defendant is Bello’s teacher, the third is the teacher’s student, while the third and fifth defendants are close friends of the first defendant.”

The court was adjourned for recess at exactly 11:32am, with proceedings expected to continue later in the day.