By Olokuta Rofiat
A Kwara State High Court has sentenced the killer of a final-year student of the University of Ilorin, Oluwakemi Adeoye, to death by hanging, bringing closure to a case that sparked widespread outrage.
The presiding judge, Justice Adebayo Yusuf, found the convict, Abdulkareem Aliu, guilty of the brutal murder that occurred in Tanke area of Ilorin in 2021. According to court documents, Aliu lured the 24-year-old student to his residence under false pretenses before attacking her with a blunt object, leading to her death.
The prosecution presented strong evidence, including a confessional statement, forensic reports, and eyewitness testimonies, which the court deemed credible and sufficient for conviction.
Reacting to the verdict, the victim’s family expressed relief, calling it a long-awaited justice for their daughter. Civil society groups in Kwara also hailed the judgment as a deterrent to gender-based violence and a victory for justice.
Aliu’s counsel, however, has indicated plans to appeal the ruling.
