Islamic cleric sentenced to death for killing friend in Lagos

34-year-old Islamic cleric, Fatai Afobaje, sentenced to death for killing his friend and mutilating his body in Itire Village Magbon, Badagry, Lagos State..

Justice Modupe Nicol-Clay of the Lagos High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square, sentenced the cleric to death after finding him guilty of conspiracy to commit murder and murder.

The judge held that Lagos State Government, prosecuting the case, proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

Nicol-Clay said that prosecution was able to prove that the convict caused the death of his friend, Rafiu Sulaiman, aged 44.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the incident happened on Feb.13, 2015 and the convict has been remanded since his arraignment in 2017, during which he pleaded not guilty.

Prosecution team, led by Mrs Adesola Adekunle-Bello, called six witnesses and tendered 12 exhibits during trial.

Prosecution had told the court that the convict murdered Sulaiman and mutilated his body by cutting off his head, intestines, lungs, scrotum and hands.

The offences contravened Sections 221 and 231 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.