Kwara: Suspects plead not guilty to murder of final year student

Seven accused persons in the murder of a final-year female student, Mojisola Awesu, have all pleaded not guilty to the charges before Justice Ibrahim Yusuf of the Kwara State High Court, Ilorin, on Tuesday.

The suspects had been ordered to be remanded in a correctional facility during the last court session due to the absence of their counsel.

Tribune reports that all seven suspects appeared in court over the murder of Mojisola Awesu, a student of the Kwara State College of Health Technology, Offa.

The prosecution, led by the State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Idowu Ayoola Akande, requested the court to proceed with the hearing after the defendants pleaded not guilty. However, the defense counsel argued that they were not prepared for the hearing, as the case had been adjourned for arraignment, not for hearing, at the last session.

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Consequently, Justice Ibrahim Yusuf adjourned the case until March 12, 2025, for hearing.

Happiness Adebayo and Timileyin Kolawole are the prime suspects, accused of conspiring and causing the death of Mojisola Awesu on August 9, 2024.

It was recalled that the deceased had allegedly been lured to Ilorin by Happiness Adebayo and Timileyin Kolawole before being murdered, after which her body was dumped at a refuse site in the Warah community, Ilorin.

Happiness Adebayo and his parents, Adebayo Adeniyi and Bukola Adeniyi, were accused of conspiracy and destruction of evidence, offenses punishable under the Penal Code Law of Kwara State, 2006.

Adeoye Adeola, Lawal Aminat, and Peter Bulus were accused of conspiring and dumping Mojisola Awesu’s corpse at a refuse site along Warah Road, Ilorin, an offense punishable under the Kwara State Prohibition of Dealing in Human Parts Law, 2018.