Justice Lateef Adegoke of the Osun State High Court, sitting in Iwo, has sentenced an Islamic cleric, Kabiru Ibrahim, to death by hanging for the murder of one Adeleke Lukman, in what was described as a money ritual scheme.
The convict was charged with a three-count bordering on conspiracy, murder, and stealing, contrary to Sections 324, 319(1), and 390 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 34, Laws of Osun State.
The prosecution, led by Abiodun Badiora from the Ministry of Justice, alongside Ajibola Slade and Omotayo Babalola, told the court that Kabiru Ibrahim was a spiritualist whom the deceased regularly consulted for spiritual advice.
According to the prosecution, the deceased, Adeleke Lukman, approached the cleric after planning to purchase land. Kabiru allegedly asked him to bring the money for an overnight prayer before making the payment to the land vendor.
Lukman was never seen again after that meeting.
During the search for him, his family was informed by a community member (name withheld) that Lukman was last seen being taken to Kabiru Ibrahim’s residence. When the family confronted the cleric, he initially denied having seen the deceased for over two weeks. However, the community member refuted this claim, stating he had personally taken Lukman to the cleric’s house just a day prior to his disappearance.
The matter was reported to the police, and during interrogation, Kabiru confessed to the Divisional Police Officer 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 confession. Also, it was revealed that Kabiru had stolen ₦300,000 from the deceased on August 24, 2016.
The defense counsel, Chidera Eze, did not respond to the prosecution’s final written address.
Justice Adegoke found Kabiru Ibrahim guilty of both murder and stealing. He sentenced him to seven years’ imprisonment for the stealing and passed a death sentence on him for murder.
