On Tuesday, four individuals, including Adebayo Happiness, a final-year student at Summit University, Offa, were arraigned at a Kwara State Chief Magistrate Court in Ilorin. They are facing charges related to the alleged murder of Awesu Mojisola, a 21-year-old graduate of the Kwara State College of Health Technology.
According to the charges, Mojisola was reportedly killed by Happiness on August 10, 2024, in a room at Whitefield Hotel in Ilorin. Happiness allegedly lured Mojisola to a supposedly celebratory event in Ilorin, which turned out to be a ruse.
In addition to Happiness, his parents, Adebayo Adeniyi (51) and Bukola Adeniyi (49), and an accomplice, 24-year-old Timileyin Kolawole, are also charged. The accusations include criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, theft, false impersonation, and evidence tampering under Sections 97, 221, 287, 179, and 167 of the Penal Code Law, as well as computer-related fraud under Sections 14(2) (3) and 22 (2) (3) of the Cybercrime Prevention and Prohibition Law 2015.
The prosecution, led by ASP Isaac Yakub, informed the court that Blessing Ogungbenro reported Mojisola missing on August 14, 2024. Ogungbenro stated that Mojisola had informed her of a call from Timileyin Kolawole, inviting her to a party organized by Happiness. Mojisola accepted the invitation and traveled to Ilorin. Upon arrival, Mojisola was reportedly uncomfortable due to Happiness smoking cannabis in the hotel room.
Mojisola’s phone became unreachable, leading to her disappearance. Subsequent police investigation revealed that Happiness had deceived Mojisola with the false party invitation. On August 10, 2024, he allegedly killed Mojisola and left her body in the hotel room before fleeing with her iPhone 11 Pro and N15,600.
The investigation further uncovered that Bukola Adeniyi helped remove the SIM card from Mojisola’s phone and hid it, while Adeniyi’s husband stored the iPhone in their family car.
The court did not take the suspects’ pleas. Defense counsel Mr. A. Iwalaye requested bail for the suspects, assuring their attendance at future hearings and their provision of reliable sureties. The prosecution opposed this request, emphasizing the gravity of the charges.
Chief Magistrate Mr. Wahab Saka ordered the suspects’ remand at the Federal Correctional Centre, Oke Kura, Ilorin. The case was adjourned to September 12, 2024, for further proceedings.
