Amanze ChinonyeA High Court in Minna has sentenced 16-year-old Joy Afekafe to life imprisonment for her involvement in the brutal murder of Dr. Mrs. Funmilayo Adefolalu, a lecturer in the Department of Biochemistry at the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna.
Joy, who was arrested at the age of 14, was found guilty of participating in the violent attack that led to the death of the respected academic on 28 October 2023. During the trial, the court heard how Joy, alongside two accomplices identified only as Walex and Smart, entered Dr. Adefolalu’s residence in the Gbaiko area of Minna under the guise of confronting her, but ended up stabbing her multiple times until she died. The trio also carted away some of the victim’s belongings before fleeing the scene.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelInvestigations revealed that Joy had been employed by the late lecturer for about three weeks before she was dismissed for alleged misconduct. In a chilling confession, she told police that she returned with the two male suspects with the intention of beating the lecturer, but after realizing that she could recognize them, they decided to kill her. Joy described how the lecturer cried out “Jesus, Jesus” as they stabbed her repeatedly in the stomach, hands, and legs.
The case, which has drawn national attention, highlighted the growing concern around juvenile involvement in violent crimes. Despite being a minor at the time of the incident, Joy was tried as an adult due to the severity of the crime. The presiding judge ruled that the nature of the offence warranted the maximum punishment, asserting that the justice system could not allow age to serve as a shield for such a heinous act.
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The remaining suspects, Walex and Smart, are still at large, and police say efforts are ongoing to apprehend them. The Niger State Police Command had earlier handed over the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation and prosecution.
Dr. Adefolalu’s death sent shockwaves through the academic and local communities, with many expressing deep sorrow and outrage over the circumstances of her killing. The life sentence handed to Joy Afekafe has also reignited debate over how juvenile offenders are treated under Nigerian law, especially in cases involving capital crimes.
Joy is expected to serve part of her sentence in a juvenile correctional facility until she reaches adulthood, after which she may be transferred to a conventional prison in line with correctional service procedures. While the defense is expected to file an appeal, no date has been set yet for further hearings.
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