Seven suspects appeared before a Kwara State High Court on Monday over the alleged murder of final-year female student Mojisola Awesu of the College of Health Technology, Offa, Offa Local Government Area of the state.
The suspects were subsequently remanded in prison custody, while the case was adjourned until February 24, 2025, by the trial judge, Justice Ibrahim Yusuf, due to the absence of the defence counsel for the two principal accused persons.
The two main suspects, Happiness Adebayo and Timilehin Kolawole are accused of conspiring to cause the death of Mojisola Awesu on August 9, 2024.
The five other suspects include Adebayo Adeniyi and Bukola Adeniyi, the parents of Happiness Adebayo, and Adeoye Adeola, Lawal Aminat, and Peter Bulus, who are workers at the hotel where Mojisola was allegedly murdered.
The suspects are facing a six-count charge relating to conspiracy, murder, disappearance and destruction of evidence, and dumping the body of the late student at a waste disposal site.
The offences, according to the prosecution, are contrary to and punishable under Sections 97, 221, and 167 of the Penal Code CAP P4, Laws of Kwara State, and the Prohibition of Dealing in Human Parts Law 2018.
When the case was called in court on Monday, the state Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, Ayoola Akande, who led five other lawyers, announced his appearance, while Barristers F.A. Ahmed and A.I. Orisankoko appeared for the parents and hotel workers.
However, the court could not hear the pleas of the accused persons because the two principal accused were not represented in court.
Therefore, the trial judge ruled that the principal accused, Happiness Adebayo and Timileyin Kolawole, be remanded in a correctional facility, and the case was adjourned until February 24 for the proper arraignment of the accused persons.
DAILY POST recalls that the deceased was allegedly lured to Ilorin, the state capital, by Happiness Adebayo and Timileyin Kolawole and was later allegedly murdered before her body was discovered at a dump site in the Warah community, Ilorin.
Happiness Adebayo and his parents, Adebayo Adeniyi and Bukola Adeniyi, are accused of conspiring to cause the disappearance and destruction of evidence, punishable under the Penal Code Law of Kwara State, 2006.
Adeoye Adeola, Lawal Aminat, and Peter Bulus are accused of conspiring to dump the body of Mojisola Awesu at a dump site along Warah Road, Ilorin.
