From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
A man who claimed to be an Islamic cleric, Kabiru Abdalla, 42, has been sentenced to death by Justice Lateef Adegoke of an Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo for killing his client, Adeleke Lukman, who consulted him for spiritual advice.
The convict was arraigned on three counts of conspiracy, murder, and stealing, contrary to and punishable under sections 324, 333, and 383 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 38, Laws of Osun State, Nigeria, 2002.
The state prosecution team, Abiodun Badiora, Ajibola Alade, and Omotayo Babalola, informed the court that the convict was a spiritualist whom the deceased regularly consulted for spiritual advice.
The prosecution stated that the deceased approached the convict for consultation before purchasing a plot of land and was asked to bring money for an overnight prayer before making the payment to the land vendor.
A statement by the information officer of the state Ministry of Justice, Opeyemi Bello, quoted the prosecution as saying, “The deceased, Lukman, was never seen again after that meeting. During the search for him, his family was informed by a community member that Lukman was last seen at the convict’s residence.
“When the family confronted the convict, he initially denied seeing the deceased for over two weeks, but the community member refuted his claim, stating that he had personally taken Lukman to the cleric’s residence a day prior to his disappearance.
“The matter was reported to the police, and during interrogation, the convict confessed to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) that he had murdered the deceased. He led the authorities to the Ilesa/Akure expressway, where the remains of Lukman were found inside a sack. One of his palms had been severed. Photographic evidence of the scene was tendered in court.”
The prosecution called six witnesses and presented several exhibits, including Kabiru’s extrajudicial statement. It was also revealed that the convict stole N300,000 from the deceased on August 24, 2016.
Counsel to the convict, Chidera Eze, did not respond to the prosecution’s final written address, and Justice Adegoke found Abdalla guilty of murder and stealing.
The judge sentenced the convict to seven years’ imprisonment for stealing and to death by hanging for the murder.