10 Defendants, Including KWASU Students, Face Trial Over Student’s Killing, Shooting Of Another In Kwara | Sahara Reporters
SaharaReporters observed proceedings on Monday before Justice Yusuf Dikko Adebayo, where the prosecution, led by the Director of Public Prosecutions, called its first witness, an exhibit keeper attached to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Police Headquarters, Ilorin.
At least 10 defendants, including students of Kwara State University (KWASU), are standing trial before the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin over allegations of cultism, criminal conspiracy, the killing of one student and the shooting of another in Malete, Moro Local Government Area of the state.
SaharaReporters observed proceedings on Monday before Justice Yusuf Dikko Adebayo, where the prosecution, led by the Director of Public Prosecutions, called its first witness, an exhibit keeper attached to the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Police Headquarters, Ilorin.
The witness tendered seven exhibits listed in the prosecution’s proof of evidence, including a battle axe, a cutlass, a yellow beret bearing the Buccaneers logo, a cap, an Apple iPhone 15 with a SIM card, an Apple iPhone 13 Pro and a white Infinix Android phone.
The items were presented as exhibits in the case against the defendants, who are accused of offences ranging from criminal conspiracy and culpable homicide to attempted culpable homicide, participation in secret cult activities and possession of allegedly stolen property.
SaharaReporters learned from the court registry that at least five of the defendants were students of KWASU, while residents of the Malete community were allegedly involved in initiating students into the cult group.
The defendants are yet to be granted bail and are currently being held at the Nigerian Correctional Service facility in Mandala, Ilorin, according to information obtained by SaharaReporters.
How Prosecution Linked The Defendants To The Alleged Killings
The charge sheet filed by the Kwara State Government names the defendants as Mathew Peter, Akintoyese Toheeb, Aighohani Michael, Ajadi Ezekiel, Abdullahi Alaba, Martins Babafogi Mamman, Sulaiman Olarewaju, Jimoh Mudashir Ajibola, Shittu Ibrahim and Akeem Saadu.
Another person, identified as Sarafadeen, and other unidentified individuals are also listed as being at large.
According to the charge sheet, the defendants allegedly conspired to kill Favour Kwame, whom the prosecution said died after being shot with a gun on July 10, 2026, in Malete.
Count One accuses the defendants of conspiring to cause Kwame’s death, stating that they allegedly “conspired to do an illegal act, to wit; conspired to cause the death of one Favour Kwame, when you shot the deceased with a gun which led to his death.”
The prosecution brought the charge under Section 97 of the Penal Code, Cap. P4, Laws of Kwara State, 2006.
In Count Two, the defendants are accused of culpable homicide punishable with death over the alleged killing.
The charge sheet states that they allegedly “committed culpable homicide punishable with death, to wit: caused the death of one Favour Kwame when you shot the deceased with a gun which led to his death.”
The prosecution also accused the defendants of attempting to kill another KWASU student, John Archibong, during a separate shooting incident on the same date.
Count Three alleges that they conspired to cause Archibong’s death, while Count Four accuses them of attempting to commit culpable homicide.
The charge sheet states that the defendants allegedly “conspired to cause the death of one John Archibong, when you shot him with a gun.”
The fourth count further alleges that they “attempted to cause the death of one John Archibong, when you shot him with a gun.”
The prosecution said the alleged offences occurred within the jurisdiction of the Kwara State High Court.
In his statement contained in the prosecution’s proof of evidence, Archibong, identified as a 400-level student in the Department of Chemistry at KWASU, gave an account of how he was allegedly shot while trying to buy food in Malete.
Archibong said the incident happened at about 9:40 a.m. on July 10, 2026, while he was at the Malete Tarmac area to buy food at a place identified as E-bay.
He stated that he was using his phone when he suddenly heard a gunshot.
He said he looked up to determine what had happened but discovered that he could no longer stand.
“I called for help and someone came to assist me to Med-view hospital for treatment,” he stated.
Archibong alleged that two men arrived on a scooter motorcycle and that one of them was armed with a gun.
He stated “it was two guys who came with a scooter bike that shot at me, one of them was with a gun while the other guy was sitting on the bike.”
He identified a man known as Sarafadeen as the only person he could recognise during the incident.
Archibong, however, said he had no prior dispute with anyone that could explain the attack.
Archibong’s account forms part of the prosecution’s documentary evidence. He is listed among the witnesses expected to testify during the trial.
Police Allege Raids Led To Arrests And Recovery Of Cult Insignia
The prosecution’s proof of evidence also contains statements from police officers attached to the Anti-Cultism Section of the Kwara State Police Command’s headquarters in Ilorin.
One of the officers, identified as Corporal Aremu Ajibade, stated that the case was referred from the Malete Divisional Police Station on July 13, 2026, following reports of cult-related activities linked to the death of Kwame and the shooting of Archibong.
According to the officer, the Anti-Cultism Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department subsequently raided suspected criminal hideouts in Malete.
He stated that the operation led to the arrest of the defendants and the recovery of items allegedly connected to cult activities and the shooting incident.
In his statement, Ajibade said: “Based on this information, the Anti-Cultism Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department raided some criminal hideouts within Malete which led to the arrest of the defendants; then search was conducted which led to the recovery of their secret cult insignia/paraphernalia and the victim’s iPhone.”
The officer also stated that the defendants were interviewed by the officer in charge of the Anti-Cultism Section and that they made statements under caution.
He said the statements were recorded in the presence of the chairman of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) and relatives.
Two other police officers, Corporal Aremu Ridwanlahi and Corporal Suleiman Ayodeji, gave substantially similar accounts in their statements contained in the prosecution’s proof of evidence.
The officers said they participated in the investigation following the referral of the case from the Malete police division.
Their statements are expected to form part of the prosecution’s evidence as the hearing continues.
The prosecution’s list of exhibits identifies seven items to be tendered in court.
They include one battle axe, one cutlass, one yellow beret bearing the Buccaneers logo, one cap, an Apple iPhone 15 with a SIM card, an Apple iPhone 13 Pro and a white Infinix Android phone.
The exhibit keeper’s statement said he was attached to the State CID’s exhibit room at the Police Headquarters in Ilorin when the investigating police officer brought the items for safekeeping.
He stated that the items were received and registered as exhibits in connection with the case.
According to his statement, the items were recovered from the defendants in connection with allegations of criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, attempted culpable homicide, possession of stolen property and membership of a secret cult.
The exhibit keeper said the items had remained in his custody and that he was required to tender them during the hearing.
The prosecution is expected to rely on the exhibits, alongside witness testimony, to establish its allegations against the defendants.
Apart from the allegations relating to the two shooting incidents, the charge sheet contains separate counts accusing the defendants of conspiracy to associate with and participate in the activities of a secret cult.
Count Five alleges that, on or about July 14, 2026, in Malete, the defendants conspired to belong to and participate in the activities of a secret cult confraternity.
Count Six accuses them of associating with, belonging to and participating in secret cult activities, contrary to Section 2 of the relevant state law.
The prosecution also accused the defendants of conspiring to possess an Apple iPhone 15 allegedly stolen from Archibong, whom the charge sheet identifies as a gunshot victim.
Count Seven alleges that the defendants conspired to possess the phone, while Count Eight accuses them of being found in possession of the allegedly stolen property.
The latter count cites Section 319 of the Penal Code, Cap. P4, Laws of Kwara State, 2006.
The phone listed in the charge sheet is also included among the exhibits in the prosecution’s proof of evidence.
The case is therefore expected to examine not only the alleged shootings but also the prosecution’s claims about the defendants’ alleged links to secret cult activities and their alleged possession of property connected to the incident.
The prosecution has listed seven witnesses in its proof of evidence, including Archibong, police officers involved in the investigation, the exhibit keeper and Dr Kunle Adebowale, chairman of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Ilorin chapter.
Adebowale stated that he was invited by officers of the Anti-Cultism Section on July 15 and July 17, 2026, to witness the recording of the defendants’ statements and endorse them.
He said the defendants made their statements in his presence without being subjected to torture, duress or undue influence.
“The defendants voluntarily made their statements in my presence without any torture, duress, or undue influence and under words of caution,” the statement said.
His statement is relevant to the prosecution’s account of how the defendants’ statements were obtained during the investigation.
The court will determine the admissibility and evidential weight of any statements and other materials in accordance with the law.
The trial is expected to continue with further prosecution witnesses, including the injured student and police officers involved in the investigation.
The defendants remain in custody pending further proceedings, with the matter adjourned until November 10, 2026, for continuation of hearing.