A Magistrate Court sitting in Ilorin on Thursday granted an order for Abdulrahman Ballo, the suspected killer of Hafsoh Yetunde Lawal and his co-defendants to be returned back to the custody of the Department of State Service (DSS) for further investigation.
The suspects in the gruesome murder of Hafsoh Lawal have been moved from the Nigeria Correctional Service facility, Oke-Kura, IIorin by the DSS as against the speculation going viral that they have been moved to Abuja in a section of the media.
However, on Thursday 20th March 2025, trial began at exactly 9.12am at the Magistrate Court 8 before Magistrate S.B Mohammed and ended at exactly 10.20am (appromaximately 1hr 8mins).
She urged the defendants to express their legal position appropriately if they are dissatisfied with the order.
theheraldnews.ng confirmed that all the defendants were physically present in court with their lawyers except for the Principal Suspect, Abdulrahman Ballo who is yet to have any legal representation.
Arraigned along with Abdulraham Ballo include: Ahmed Abdulwasiu ‘M’, 41 years of Zone C, No 47, Adualere Area, Ilorin; Suleiman Muyideen ‘M’, 28 years, Neolife Business, No. 7 Adualere Area, Amilengbe, Ilorin; Jamiu Uthman ‘M’, 29 years, Phone repairers, Adualere Area, Ilorin and Abdulrahmon Jamiu, ‘M’, 31 years, farmer, Elemere Village via Malete Town in Moro Local Government Area of Kwara State.
Announcing his appearance before the court, Chief State Counsel Issa Zakari said: “My lord after the last adjourned date, we received an intelligence security report pursuant to which we approached your worship that the defendants have been moved to the custody of the Department of Security Service (DSS) for further investigation and it was on this note accepted the request. As we speak, investigation is ongoing and is at advance stage.
“We hereby wish to seek for the adjournment of this case till a later date when the investigation would have been concluded.”
Cousel to the 2nd and 4th defendants, A.S. Oseni, raised an objection saying: “During the last sitting, it was said that investigations have been concluded and sequel to that prosecution and the charge that was served on the High Court, a date has been communicated to us which is 15th April 2025, coming to you behind the back door to seek for another order, my Lord the order is something that this Honourable Court does not have the right to hear and it is beyond your worship.
“The High Court has already seized this case, I hereby urge this Honourable Court to vacate such order and return the defendants back to the prison forthwith. My Lord these are copies of the charges served on the defendants for clarification.”
Similarly, Counsel to the 3rd defendant in his submission said: “No single provision of the law empowers the prosecution with such power to make such order and aligned himself with the position of of Barrister A.S. Oseni and urged the court to vacate the order describing it as babaric, null and void adding that “This court of lacks the power to determine such order because the High Court has seized the case.”
Also speaking, Counsel to the 5th defendant, also urged the court to vacate the order in the interest of justice and fair hearing.”
However, Chief State Counsel Zakari said: “I most humbly submit that the arguments by the legal representatives of the defendants is an attempt to make mountain out of nothing.
“We have informed Your Worship about the sensitivity and nature of the case which later conmunicated to vide experte order that investigation still need to continue.
“Also, the defendants are yet to be araigned before that High Court and more so, their case is yet to be mentioned there and they even yet to take a plea. The law that empower us to mention this case before you also empowers you to sit on such order and determine it. If the defendants or any party have any grouse over this order, they can approach the court of appeal to challenge such.
“Thererfore, there is no condition that can stop you from granting such order. Justice is a tripatite legal arrangements; Justice to the Society, Justice to the Victim and Justice to defendants themselves. On this note, I urge Your Worship to discontenace their position and see it an abberation and attempt to escape from justice.”
Recalled that Hafsoh, a final year student of Kwara State College of Education was allegedly killed and dismembered by AbdulRahman, a situation that was described by everyone as height of wickedness.
The case was however adjourned to Wednesday 9th April 2025.
