In a tragic and shocking case, a 21-year-old graduate from the Kwara State College of Health Technology, Awesu Mojisola, was allegedly murdered by a final-year student and his family members. The suspects were arraigned on Tuesday at the Kwara State Chief Magistrate Court in Ilorin, facing serious charges related to the crime.
The primary suspect, Adebayo Joshua Happiness, a student at Summit University in Offa, is accused of luring Mojisola to her death under false pretenses. According to the prosecution, led by ASP Isaac Yakub, Happiness deceived Mojisola into attending a fake post-graduation party at Whitefield Hotel in Ilorin on August 10, 2024. Mojisola, believing she was attending a legitimate event, accepted the invitation, unaware of the sinister plan that awaited her.
ASP Yakub explained that Mojisola had been approached by one of Happiness’s accomplices, Timileyin Kolawole, who convinced her to join Happiness at the hotel for the party, offering her a payment of N15,000. However, once Mojisola arrived at the hotel, she quickly became uncomfortable. She called her friend, Blessing Ogungbenro, and expressed her unease, particularly because Happiness was smoking hemp in the hotel room.
Yakub stated, “She complained of being uncomfortable. And shortly after, her phone became unreachable, and her whereabouts became unknown.”
This was the last anyone heard from Mojisola. Her sudden disappearance prompted her friend to report the matter to the Offa Police Station on August 14, leading to a swift police investigation. Happiness was soon arrested as the prime suspect in Mojisola’s disappearance.
During the investigation, it was revealed that Happiness had planned the entire crime. He allegedly killed Mojisola in the early hours of August 10, leaving her lifeless body in the hotel room before fleeing the scene. He took with him Mojisola’s iPhone 11 Pro and N15,600 in cash, returning to Offa where he attempted to cover up the crime.
In a disturbing turn of events, Happiness’s parents, Adebayo Adeniyi (51) and Bukola Adeniyi (49), were also implicated in the crime. The prosecution revealed that Happiness’s mother, Bukola, assisted in hiding the evidence by removing the SIM card from Mojisola’s phone and concealing it in a fence block far from their home. Meanwhile, his father, Adeniyi, allegedly helped by hiding the stolen iPhone in a family car parked within their compound.
The suspects, including the accomplice Timileyin Kolawole, were charged with criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, theft, false personation, and causing the disappearance of evidence. The charges also include violations under the Cybercrime Prevention and Prohibition Law of 2015.
Despite the seriousness of the charges, the defense counsel, Mr. A. Iwalaye, pleaded with the court to grant bail to the suspects. He argued that they would not flee and would regularly attend court proceedings.
“They are ready to provide reliable sureties to stand for them in court,” Iwalaye added.
However, the prosecution strongly opposed the bail request, emphasizing the gravity of the crime.
“This case involves the termination of a human life,” Yakub argued, urging the court to deny the bail application.
In response, Chief Magistrate Wahab Saka ordered the remand of all suspects at the Federal Correctional Centre in Oke Kura, Ilorin. The case was adjourned until September 12, 2024, for further hearing.