An Osun State High Court sitting in Iwo has sentenced an Islamic cleric, Kabiru Ibrahim, to death by hanging for the murder of his 25-year-old client, Lukman Adeleke.
Justice Lateef Adegoke delivered the judgment, ruling that the prosecution successfully proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Ibrahim, referred to as an Alfa, was convicted on charges of conspiracy, murder, and theft under Sections 324, 319(1), and 390 of the Osun State Criminal Code.
According to a statement from the Ministry of Justice’s Information Officer, Opeyemi Bello, the prosecution led by Abiodun Badiora revealed that the deceased had approached Ibrahim for spiritual guidance regarding a land purchase.
Ibrahim had allegedly requested that Adeleke bring the money for a spiritual ritual before making the transaction.
Tragically, Adeleke never returned. His family was later informed by an informant that he was last seen visiting the cleric.
Initially, Ibrahim denied seeing him, but a community member contradicted his claim, stating they had accompanied Adeleke to his home the day before he went missing.
Following a police investigation, Ibrahim confessed to the murder and led authorities to the Ilesa/Akure expressway, where Adeleke’s body was discovered inside a sack. His palm had been cut off.
Photographs and Ibrahim’s confession were submitted as evidence in court.
The prosecution presented six witnesses and multiple exhibits, also disclosing that Ibrahim had stolen ₦300,000 from Adeleke on August 24, 2016.
The defense counsel did not respond to the final written argument from the prosecution.
In his judgement, Justice Adegoke sentenced Ibrahim to seven years imprisonment for theft and death by hanging for murder.
