In a gripping courtroom scene at the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin, tears flowed as Justice M. Folorunso delivered a heart-wrenching sentence to three men convicted of a horrific armed robbery. The verdict, announced on Thursday, deals with an incident that unfolded on the morning of March 2, 2024, in the Oko Erin area of Ilorin, where the men brazenly robbed a victim at gunpoint, snatching his Infinix Note 11 phone.
As the gavel fell, Justice Folorunso’s emotions were palpable, reflecting the weight of the moment. “The three young men shall be hanged by the neck until they die,” he declared, a somber conclusion to a case that shook the community.
In a dramatic turn, however, two women, Aisha Haruna and Rabi Murtala, faced acquittal. Initially charged with serious offenses—including unlawful possession of firearms and aiding and abetting kidnapping—they were cleared of all charges after a thorough examination of the evidence. The two women had been apprehended on June 25, 2025, by the Police Anti-Kidnapping Squad while traveling with a group in Babanla, Ifelodun Local Government Area. Allegations swirled when police claimed they found an AK-47 rifle and 31 live rounds of ammunition in one woman’s bag. Yet, in the face of trial, contradictions in witness testimony and a lack of concrete evidence emerged.
Justice Folorunso skillfully dissected the prosecution’s claims, pointing out the inconsistencies—most notably, the unreliable identification of the rifle, which was never definitively confirmed as an AK-47 or AK-49. Ultimately, he asserted that the prosecution had failed to establish the women’s involvement in any illegal activities, leading to their exoneration.
With a sense of relief, the court allowed their counsel to arrange safe transportation for Aisha and Rabi to return home to Kaduna and Kanmbi community in the Moro Local Government Area. As the courtroom emptied, the emotional weight of the day lingered, leaving all present to reflect on the fine line between justice and tragedy.