Court

An Ilorin Magistrates’ Court on Monday remanded a woman, Aishat Yunusa and six others for allegedly engaging in buying and selling of suspected human parts exhumed from graves.

The other accused persons were: Azeez Yakub, Ahmed Yahaya, Soliu Ayinde, Abdulganiyu Bamidele, Abdulrasak Babamale and Lukman Saka all of Ilorin, Kwara.

The Magistrate, Mr Mohammed Ndakene, ordered that they be remanded at the Federal Prison, Oke-Kura, Ilorin, and adjourned the case till Nov. 13 for further mention.

The Prosecutor, ASP Kunle Iwalaye, earlier told the court that the accused persons had appeared before it on a three-count charge.

Iwalaye said they were charged with buying and selling of human parts, unlawful opening of graves and unlawful possession of human parts.

He said the accused persons were arrested on Oct. 5, following intelligence by the ‘D’ Division of the Nigerian Police, Adewole, Ilorin, indicating that one Yakub was selling human parts.

“Immediate search conducted at Yakub’s house and premises led to the recovery of 11 suspected human skulls, suspected human bones, and some human hair concealed in the ceiling of the house,” he said.

He stated that discreet investigation conducted into the case led to the arrest of others within Ilorin metropolis who were discovered to be receivers of the various suspected human parts from Yakub.

“The First Information Report (FIR) added that the accused persons confessed during investigation to have at one time or the other bought human parts from Yakub,’’ Iwalaye said.

The prosecutor said the alleged offence contravened Sections 1, 4 and 7 of the Kwara State Prohibition of Dealing in Human Parts Law, No. 4 of 2018.

He prayed the court to remand the accused persons in prison custody, saying that investigation into the case was ongoing.

The accused persons however, pleaded not guilty to the charge against them.