Crime

16-year-old Girl Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder of University Lecturer

A state high court in Minna, Niger State, has sentenced 16-year-old Joy Afekafe to life imprisonment for the murder of Dr. Funmilayo Adefolalu, a lecturer at the Federal University of Technology, Minna. Justice Mohammed Mohammed of High Court 4 delivered the ruling on Wednesday, finding Afekafe guilty of culpable homicide and armed robbery, crimes punishable under Sections 221 and 298 of the Penal Code.

Dr. Adefolalu was brutally murdered on October 28, 2023, at her residence in the Gbaiko area of Minna. Afekafe, who was just 14 years old at the time, had briefly worked as a housemaid for the lecturer but was dismissed over allegations of theft. According to her confessional statement to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, she later conspired with two acquaintances, identified as Wallex and Smart—both currently at large—to attack the lecturer.

The court heard that the trio arrived at the lecturer’s home around 4 p.m. on the day of the incident. Afekafe reportedly approached the gate and was let in by the unsuspecting victim. Wallex and Smart then followed, launching a vicious assault on Dr. Adefolalu. She was stabbed multiple times, struck with a wooden stool, and left for dead. The attackers also made away with her phone, laptop, foreign currencies, and even the battery from her vehicle.

Police investigations led to Afekafe’s arrest at a residence in the Gbeganu area of Minna. During interrogation, she confessed to the crime and detailed her role in orchestrating the attack, citing anger and a desire for revenge after being dismissed from the lecturer’s home.

Justice Mohammed, in delivering his judgment, affirmed that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt. He stated that although the offences carry a death sentence, Nigerian law prohibits capital punishment for offenders under the age of 18. As a result, Afekafe was sentenced to life imprisonment for homicide and an additional 10 years for armed robbery.