SEVEN SUSPECTS PLEAD NOT GUILTY TO KILLING KWARA STUDENT

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Seven individuals accused of murder of Mojisola Awesu, a final-year student of Kwara State College of Health Technology, Offa, pleaded not guilty before Justice Ibrahim Yusuf of the Kwara State High Court, Ilorin, on Tuesday.

The prosecution charged them with six counts, including conspiracy, murder, destruction of evidence, and disposing of the victim’s body at a dumpsite.

Those charged included Happiness Adebayo and Timileyin Kolawole who were the prime suspects accused of conspiring and causing the death of Mojisola on August 9, 2024.

Happiness’ parents: Adebayo Adeniyi and Bukola Adeniyi, were accused of conspiring and causing the disappearance and destruction of evidence punishable under the Penal Code Law of Kwara State, 2006.

Recall that the trio hotel workers, Adeoye Adeola, Lawal Aminat and Peter Bulus, were accused of conspiring and dumping the corpse of Mojisola at a dump along Warah road, Ilorin, punishable under the Kwara state Prohibition of Dealing in Human Parts Law, 2018.

They were accused of conspiring and causing the death of Awesu Mojisola on August 9, 2024.

The offences, according to the prosecution, were contrary to and punishable under Sections 97,221,167 of the Penal Code, CAP. P4, Laws of Kwara State, 2006 and Section 9 of the Kwara State Prohibition of Dealing in Human Parts Law 2018.

When the case came up in the court on Tuesday, the Kwara State Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Ayoola Akande, said he was ready to go ahead with the trial after the defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

However, the defence counsel argued that they were not prepared for a hearing because the matter was adjourned for arraignment and not for a hearing at the last adjourned date.

Justice Yusuf who was the trial judge then ordered that all the defendants be remanded in a correctional facility at the last court session due to the absence of one of the counsel in the matter.

He said, “This is a criminal case which involved life. The trial should be expeditious, there should be no waste of time.”

He then adjourned the case till March 12, 2025, for a hearing.