Osun Cleric Sentenced To Death By Hanging For Killing Client

An 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.

Justice Lateef Adegoke who gave the judgment, found Ibrahim guilty of murdering the victim.

The convict was charged with three counts: 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 Esq. from the Ministry of Justice, alongside Ajibola Alade and Omotayo Babalola, told the court that Ibrahim was a spiritualist whom the deceased regularly consulted for spiritual advice.

The prosecution told the court that the deceased had approached the cleric to inform him of his plan to purchase land.

The prosecution added that Kabiru asked him to bring the money for an overnight prayer before making the payment to the land vendor, adding that the victim went missing after the meeting.

The cleric was said to have killed the victim for money ritual.

The prosecution added, “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 before his disappearance.

“The matter was reported to the police, and during interrogation, Kabiru confessed to the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) 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 confession.

Justice Adegoke found Ibrahim guilty of both murder and stealing.

He sentenced him to seven years imprisonment for stealing and sentenced him to death by hanging for murder.