Court sentences 16-yr-old girl to life imprisonment for killing varsity lecturer

A state high court in Minna, Niger State, has sentenced a 16-year-old girl, Joy Afekafe, to life imprisonment for her role in the murder of Funmilayo Adefolalu, a lecturer at the Federal University of Technology, Minna.

Justice Mohammed Mohammed of High Court 4 pronounced the sentence on Wednesday after finding the teenager guilty of the two-count charge of culpable homicide and armed robbery, both offences punishable under Sections 221 and 298 of the Penal Code.

Joy Afekafe had served as a housemaid to the late Dr Adefolalu from 2 October 2023.

She was introduced to the household by Pastor Ojo Peters of the Voice of Mercy Church, Minna, which both the deceased and Joy’s mother attended.

While staying at the residence, Joy reportedly began stealing property and foreign currency, prompting Dr Adefolalu to dismiss her from her role.

Following her dismissal, the underage girl enlisted the help of two friends identified as DJ Wallex and DJ Smart, to retaliate.

In her statement to officers of the Homicide Squad, State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Niger State Police Command, the convict detailed how her accomplices, who remain at large, stabbed the deceased multiple times with knives.

As the victim tried to defend herself with a stool, they overpowered her, seized the stool, and struck her on the head, leading to her immediate death. The attackers then stole two mobile phones, a laptop, and foreign currency from her bedroom.

While delivering judgment, which lasted over two hours, Justice Mohammed stated that the prosecution had established both charges against the defendant beyond reasonable doubt.

“On the whole and for all the reasons stated in this judgment, I hold that the prosecution was able to prove beyond reasonable doubt that: Dr Mrs Funmilayo Sherifat Adefolalu is dead,” he ruled.

“That the d3ath of Dr Mrs Funmilayo Sherifat Adefolalu was caused by the convict with her friends, now at large, when they used knives to stab her severally and eventually hit her with a wooden stool with the intention to k!ll her.

“From the evidence before me, I’m satisfied that the prosecution has proved the offences of culpable homicide punishable with d3ath and armed robbery against the convict.”

Justice Mohammed noted that, based on the convict’s statement to the SCIID made on 3 November 2023 and her testimony in court, she was 14 years old at the time of the offence.

He added: “Although she is now 16 years old, by the provisions of Section 221 of the Penal Code, Laws of Niger State 1989, whosoever is found guilty of culpable homicide punishable with d3ath shall be sentenced to d3ath by a method prescribed by the trial judge.

“However, where the convict is less than 18 years old at the time of the offence, a sentence of d3ath shall not be pronounced or recorded. Instead, the court shall sentence the person to life custodial or to such other terms.”

He subsequently sentenced her to life in a custodial centre for culpable homicide and ten years for armed robbery.

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