The murder of a 25-year-old man, Lukman Adeleke, has led to the sentencing of Islamic cleric Kabiru Ibrahim to death by hanging by an Osun State High Court sitting in Iwo. The court also sentenced him to seven years imprisonment for theft.
Kabiru Ibrahim, commonly referred to as an “Alfa,” was charged with conspiracy, murder, and theft, offences which contravene Sections 324, 319(1), and 390 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 34, Laws of Osun State. The trial was presided over by Justice Lateef Adegoke.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Adegoke held that the prosecution had proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt. He declared Ibrahim guilty of the murder of Lukman Adeleke and sentenced him to death by hanging. Additionally, the cleric was found guilty of theft and sentenced to seven years in prison for the offence.
According to a statement released by Opeyemi Bello, the Information Officer of the Ministry of Justice, and obtained in Osogbo on Wednesday, May 28, the prosecution team was led by Abiodun Badiora. The statement detailed the tragic events that led to the court’s verdict.
The court heard that the deceased, Lukman Adeleke, had approached the cleric for spiritual assistance regarding the purchase of a parcel of land. Ibrahim reportedly told Adeleke to bring the money intended for the land so he could perform overnight prayers with it before the transaction with the vendor. Adeleke complied and handed over the money.
Tragically, after the prayer session, Adeleke went missing. As the search for him intensified, his family was informed by an informant that he was last seen visiting Ibrahim’s residence.
When the family confronted the cleric, he initially denied seeing Adeleke in over two weeks. However, a community member contradicted his claim, stating that he had personally taken Adeleke to Ibrahim’s house the day before the disappearance.
The suspicious circumstances were reported to the police. During interrogation, Ibrahim confessed to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) that he had murdered the young man.
He subsequently led the authorities to the Ilesa/Akure expressway, where Adeleke’s decomposing remains were discovered inside a sack. Shockingly, one of the victim’s palms had been severed.
Photographic evidence of the crime scene was tendered in court. The prosecution also presented several exhibits, including Ibrahim’s extrajudicial confession. In total, six witnesses were called to testify during the trial. It was further revealed that on August 24, 2016, Ibrahim had stolen a sum of ₦300,000 from the deceased.
The statement noted that the defendant’s counsel (name withheld) did not respond to the prosecution’s final written address, and no effective defense was mounted against the charges.
Justice Adegoke declared Kabiru Ibrahim guilty on all counts. The sentence was a combination of seven years imprisonment for the theft of ₦300,000 and death by hanging for the heinous murder of Lukman Adeleke.