Seven Suspects Plead Not Guilty in Murder of Student in Kwara
Seven suspects facing charges in the alleged murder of Mojisola Awesu, a final-year student, pleaded not guilty to the charges against them on Tuesday before Justice Ibrahim Yusuf of the Kwara State High Court, Ilorin.
At the previous court session, the trial judge had ordered that the suspects be remanded in a correctional facility due to the absence of their legal counsel. However, all seven suspects were present in court on Tuesday for the proceedings.
The prosecution, led by the State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Idowu Akande, urged the court to proceed with the hearing after the defendants pleaded not guilty. In contrast, the defense counsel argued that they were unprepared for the hearing, as the last adjournment was for arraignment, not a hearing.
Following this, Justice Ibrahim Yusuf adjourned the case to March 12, 2025, for further hearing.
The primary suspects, Happiness Adebayo and Timileyin Kolawole, are accused of conspiring to cause the death of Mojisola Awesu on August 9, 2024.
Happiness Adebayo and his parents, Adebayo Adeniyi and Bukola Adeniyi, face charges of conspiring to cause the disappearance and destruction of evidence, a crime under the Penal Code Law of Kwara State, 2006.
Other suspects, Adeoye Adeola, Lawal Aminat, and Peter Bulus, are accused of conspiring to dump Awesu’s body at a dumpsite along Warah Road in Ilorin, violating the Kwara State Prohibition of Dealing in Human Parts Law, 2018.
