By By Oluwatoyin Malik
LAST Friday, the Oyo State High Court’s Court 5 heard the murder case involving five persons, with the third prosecution witness (PW3), Pastor Abraham Ajayi, the chairman of the Okegbemi Community Landlord’s Association, Zone C, giving testimony. Pastor Ajayi recounted the events that led to the discovery of the activities of the first defendant, Adekunle Mohammed, in the murder of community members and others.
Mohammed is standing trial alongside four others before Justice Akinniyi Ladiran Akintola, charged with conspiracy, murder, and dismemberment of victims’ bodies for sale. The other accused are Muniru Salaudeen, Rashidat Akanji a.k.a Iya Ewe, Ismail Olalekan, and Sanmi Obaleye.
Ajayi, a commercial motorcyclist, was led in evidence by the State Senior Counsel, S. A. Osuolale. He stated that he resides in the Seriki Okegbemi area, Olorisaoko, Moniya, and that he has known the first defendant since 2016.
Recalling August 7, 2024, Pastor Ajayi said: “On that date, we had a naming ceremony in our area, and as the community chairman, it is part of my duties to attend. As I was heading home from Moniya to join the ceremony, I encountered Adekunle Mohammed on a motorcycle heading towards Moniya with a male child, while I was on my way to our community. When I arrived at the ceremony, I stayed until 9:00 p.m before leaving for home.
“I returned home when someone came in and said they had been trying to reach me. I was then asked to come to our usual community meeting spot. When I got there, I found about five people who said they saw a commercial motorcyclist (Okada) near Mohammed’s house. They questioned the Okada rider about why he was there so late, and he reportedly replied that he had brought Afaa Mohammed home. Mohammed was seen carrying a tied white sack containing something. I told the community members how I saw Mohammed leaving the community for Moniya, wondering why he was seen at night carrying the sack.
“Other community members questioned him about his late-night visits to his house. They agreed that we should all go to his house to investigate and find out what he was doing at that hour.
“When we arrived, some wanted us to break in, but I stopped them. We asked neighbours sharing a fence with him to come out and tell us what they observed about his behaviour and his house. They said they had perceived a foul smell emanating from Mohammed’s house repeatedly, and that swarms of flies often perched on the windows.
“I told the gathering that the matter was beyond us and that we should inform the police so they could open the house for inspection. I contacted the general chairman to come to our zone. When he arrived, I briefed him and expressed my desire to involve the police to force open Mohammed’s house and see what was inside.
“We proceeded to the Amotekun office at Akinyele, arriving around midnight. There, we were directed to report at Moniya police station. We provided Mohammed’s phone number to the Amotekun officers. At the police station, we were told to return at daybreak since it was already late. We also left his phone number with the police.
“The next morning, the executive held a meeting. During the meeting, the general chairman called to inform us that Amotekun personnel were en route to our community. When they arrived, we took them to Adekunle’s house, which was overgrown with weeds. We informed the officers that the house had always been full of grass. They examined the surroundings and uncovered a deep well covered with planks and roofing sheets. They opened the well, shone torches inside, then resealed it and took us to Moniya police station. Upon arrival, the Divisional Police Officer advised us to remain vigilant, tighten security, and prevent strangers from entering the community.
“The following day, the general chairman told us to come to the station, as the defendant had been arrested. He said Amotekun reported seeing a human corpse in the well during their inspection of Adekunle’s house. We went to the police station and observed the police recording the accused’s statement. When asked why he was killing and storing bodies in the well, he claimed he usually killed thieves and dropped their bodies there. The police inquired whether he had reported any thefts to the community or police, and he responded that he had not.
“When asked how he killed the thieves, he said he would first hit them with charms. He was detained by the police for the search conducted at his residence.
“On August 10, 2024, community members were informed of the police discovery at Adekunle’s house, and we were all called to report to the police station. We found many security personnel and media present. We proceeded to Mohammed’s house, where the well was opened, releasing a putrid smell. When Mohammed was asked to open his door, he failed to do so, and it was broken open. Inside, the police found bloodstains on the floor, along with several plastic bottles filled with blood and human body parts.
“When questioned about these items, he confirmed they were human body parts and blood, which he had not yet sold because there were no buyers. He also asked the police to keep the matter private, claiming others involved might flee if they learned of his arrest. He named some individuals—Afaa Bulala, Afaa Olobe, and Kuraisi (whose real name is Yakubu)—and urged that they be arrested as well.
“The police called the Oyo State Fire Service, which evacuated three bodies from the well. The bodies lacked heads, arms, and legs, as some had decomposed. The Fire Service officials stated these were the only recoverable bodies. We arranged for a vehicle to transport the bodies to the mortuary.
“The case was then transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.”
The statement Ajayi wrote at the police station was tendered as evidence, and with no objections from the defence, it was admitted and marked as Exhibit P3.
The case was adjourned until 6 November.
Meanwhile, on June 20, the second prosecution witness (PW2), Oladimeji Titilope, the elder sister of another victim, Adekola Sodiq, stated that Mohammed claimed to know her late brother and even mentioned her name. He also disclosed that he had killed Sodiq.
Saturday Tribune
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