THE High Court sitting in Minna, the Niger State capital, has sentenced a teenage housemaid, Joy Afekafe, to death for her role in the murder of Dr. (Mrs.) Funmilayo Sherifat Adefolalu, a senior lecturer with the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna.
Justice Mohammed Adishetu Mohammed of High Court No. 4 delivered the judgment on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, after finding the defendant guilty on two counts of armed robbery and culpable homicide, contrary to Sections 221 and 298 of the Penal Code.
It stated that Dr. Adefolalu was brutally killed on October 28, 2023, at her residence in the Gbaiko area of Minna, Niger State.
According to court records, Afekafe had served as a domestic worker in the home of the late academic from October 2, 2023. She was introduced to the household by Pastor Ojo Peters of the Voice of Mercy Church, which both the deceased and Joy’s mother attended.
Meanwhile, during her brief stay, Afekafe began stealing household items and foreign currency, and upon discovery, Dr. Adefolalu dismissed her from her duties.
In a retaliatory move, the teenager reportedly conspired with two male friends, identified as DJ Wallex and DJ Smart, who are currently at large. Afekafe confessed to the police that they jointly planned and executed the murder.
The convict detailed in her statement to the Homicide Squad of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID) that the attackers stabbed the lecturer multiple times with knives.
As the victim tried to fight back using a wooden stool, the attackers overpowered her, seized the stool, and struck her on the head, leading to her death. They subsequently stole two mobile phones, a laptop, and foreign currency.
Delivering the over two-hour judgment, Justice Mohammed held that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.
“On the whole and for all the reasons stated in this judgment, I hold that the prosecution was able to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Dr. (Mrs.) Funmilayo Sherifat Adefolalu is dead,” the judge said.
He further ruled that “the death of Dr. (Mrs.) Funmilayo Sherifat Adefolalu was caused by the convict with her accomplices, now at large, when they used knives to stab her severally and eventually hit her with a wooden stool with the intent to kill her.”
