Father Of Murdered Kwara Student Begs Governor To Sign Execution Warrant For Convicted Cleric

• A Kwara court sentenced Islamic cleric Abdulrahman Bello to death by hanging for the murder of Hafsoh Yetunde Lawal
• The victim’s father and the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU) urged governor to promptly sign the execution warrant
• A Kwara-based lawyer also called for swift execution, arguing it would give true closure to the victim’s family and serve as a deterrent against future crimes

The father of Hafsoh Yetunde Lawal, a Kwara State student gruesomely murdered earlier this year, has called on Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to immediately sign the execution warrant of the convicted killer, Abdulrahman Bello, an Islamic cleric sentenced to death by hanging.

On Thursday, the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin found Bello guilty of killing the young student and sentenced him to death by hanging.

The court, however, discharged Bello’s four co-defendants.

Hafso's dad asks state to sign death warrant

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Moments after the judgment, the victim’s father, Ibrahim Lawal Adifalu, spoke to Legit.ng, expressing gratitude for the verdict but emphasizing the need for swift action by the state government to conclude the justice process.

“I thank God for this judgment today, and I also appreciate the Nigerian Police, the judiciary, and the Kwara State Government,” he said.

He continued:

“This case has shown that justice can be achieved when institutions work together. Without the intervention of the Department of State Services (DSS), which prompted a fresh and more thorough investigation, we might not have reached this point. They helped uncover stronger evidence that made conviction possible.”

Adifalu, however, stressed that the job is not yet complete.

He said:

“Now that the court has sentenced him to death by hanging, it is time for the government to take the final step—signing the execution warrant. The government played a key role in securing the conviction, and we are pleading with them not to stop halfway. Let the law be fully implemented.”

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Lawyer calls for swift execution

Also weighing in on the development, a Kwara-based lawyer, Attairu Haruna Galad, hailed the judgment as a landmark victory for justice but cautioned against delays in carrying out the sentence.

“Securing this judgment is a victory indeed, but execution is what gives justice its full meaning,” Galad said.

The lawyer continued:

“We must move away from this global trend that prioritizes offender reformation at the expense of deterrence. This country cannot afford to feed convicted killers with taxpayers' money while the families of victims are left to mourn without closure

“How does it make sense that someone who has taken another person’s life continues to live for years in prison, fed and clothed with public funds? Let the state allow him to meet his creator and bring proper closure to the bereaved family.”

Similarly, the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Nurudeen Ibrahim, urged the government not to delay in executing the court’s decision.

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The group said it had followed the judicial process with keen interest and welcomed the death sentence as a step in the right direction.

“The verdict should be swiftly executed to serve as a deterrent against ritual killings and similar criminal acts,” the statement read in part.

“It is our hope that this judgment will send a clear message that evil shall never prevail over righteousness.”

The IEDPU commiserated with the Lawal family and praised the Kwara State Government, judiciary, and security agencies for ensuring that justice prevailed in the high-profile case that shocked many across the state.

Court asks Kwara gov’t to bring witnesses

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that a Kwara State High Court had formally arraigned an Islamic cleric and four others in connection with the alleged ritual killing of a final-year student.

The suspects, who face charges including conspiracy, culpable homicide, and possession of human parts, pleaded not guilty during the court session.

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With DSS investigations concluded, the court has adjourned the case to May 7 and instructed the state to present all witnesses and evidence for a full hearing.

Source: Legit.ng