Court Sentences Teen to Life Imprisonment in Niger

A Niger State High Court has sentenced 16-year-old Joy Afekafe to life imprisonment for her role in the murder of a lecturer at the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna. The case, widely followed across the state, has shocked many due to the age of the convict and the brutality of the crime.

The court sentenced the teen to life for FUT lecturer murder after finding her guilty of killing Dr. Funmilayo Sherifat Adefolalu in 2023, when she was just 14. She carried out the attack with two classmates who are still at large.

How the Court Reached Its Verdict

Justice Mohammed Adishetu Mohammed of Minna High Court 4 delivered the ruling on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. He said the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. Joy and her friends stabbed the lecturer several times and struck her with a wooden stool to make sure she died.

Court Sentences Teen but Spares Death Penalty

Although the law allows for a death sentence under Section 221 of the Penal Code, it prohibits executing minors. Since Joy was under 18 at the time of the offence, the court opted for a life sentence instead.

The court also handed her an additional 10 years for armed robbery.

Police Investigation into the FUT Lecturer’s Murder

Police began investigating after Dr. Adefolalu’s body was found in her home. Officers recovered two bloodstained knives at the crime scene. They later arrested Joy, who confessed during questioning.

She admitted she had worked as the lecturer’s housemaid. After being dismissed for bad behavior, she allegedly recruited her classmates Walex and Smart to carry out the attack.

Manhunt for Accomplices Continues

The police have urged the public to help locate the two suspects. The court’s sentence of the teen for FUT lecturer murder has raised concerns about violent crime among minors. Many are also questioning the use of underage house helps without background checks

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