Teen Girl Gets Life Imprisonment for Killing FUT Minna Lecturer
A High Court sitting in Minna, Niger State, has sentenced 16-year-old Joy Afekafe to life imprisonment for her role in the brutal murder of Dr. Mrs. Funmilayo Sherifat Adefolalu, a former lecturer at 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 Afekafe guilty on two counts: armed robbery and culpable homicide, punishable under Sections 221 and 298 of the Penal Code.
Dr. Adefolalu was murdered on October 28, 2023, at her residence in the Gbaiko area of Minna. Afekafe had been employed as a housemaid in the household earlier that month through the recommendation of Pastor Ojo Peters of Voice of Mercy Church, which both the victim and Afekafe’s mother attended.
According to court proceedings, the teenager began stealing property and foreign currency during her stay, leading to her dismissal by Dr. Adefolalu. In retaliation, Afekafe conspired with two accomplices—identified as DJ Wallex and DJ Smart, who are still at large—to carry out the attack.
During her confession to officers from the Homicide Squad of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Afekafe revealed that the accomplices fatally stabbed Dr. Adefolalu multiple times and struck her on the head with a wooden stool, killing her. The group then stole personal items, including two mobile phones, a laptop, and foreign currency.
In a judgment that lasted over two hours, Justice Mohammed stated that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt. He ruled:
“The prosecution has successfully established that Dr. Funmilayo Sherifat Adefolalu is dead, and that her death was caused by the convict and her accomplices using knives and a wooden stool with the intention to kill.”
Although Afekafe is now 16, the judge noted she was 14 years old at the time of the crime. Under Section 221 of the Penal Code, a death sentence cannot be imposed on an offender under the age of 18. Accordingly, the court sentenced her to life imprisonment for culpable homicide and an additional 10 years for armed robbery.
The ruling brings closure to a case that shocked the academic and local communities, highlighting the growing concern over youth involvement in violent crimes.
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