Kwara State Court remands Nigerian films promoter in prison for allegedly killing his friend for ritual

Below follows a fuzzy report on an alleged ‘money ritual’ as deadly ritualistic ceremonies or activities are called in Nigeria. Circumstances of the sudden and unexplained death of Mustapha Balogun are not clear hence some prudence is warranted. Moreover, nobody is guilty unless he/she is found guilty after a fair, public trial by an independent judge. That’s the rule of law.

Kwara State is located in the South West geopolitical zone of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Federal Republic of Nigeria is divided into six geopolitical zones commonly called zones.  

Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones

Kwara State is with a surface area of 36,825 km2 (14,218 sq mi) Nigeria’s ninth largest state (out of 36), but one of its least populous with an estimated population of 6 million. The majority ethnic group is Yoruba. living throughout the state. Other important ethnic groups include the Nupe people in the northeast, Bariba (Baton) and Bush (Boikobaru) people in the west, and a small Fulani group in Ilorin, mainly nomadic herders.
(FVDK)

Map of Kwara State, Nigeria. For the official website of the Kwara State government: click here

Court Remands Nigerian Films Promoter In Prison For Allegedly Killing His Friend For Ritual In Kwara State

Published: February 14, 2024
By: Sahara Reporters

A source privy to the court proceedings told SaharaReporters that Afolayan who is the Chief Executive Officer of Ace Media was accused of using his friend, Mustapha Balogun for money ritual which resulted in the sudden death of the latter.

A Kwara State Magistrate Court sitting in Ilorin on Tuesday remanded a popular films promoter, Oloba Maroof Afolayan in prison for allegedly killing his friend for ritual.

A source privy to the court proceedings told SaharaReporters that Afolayan who is the Chief Executive Officer of Ace Media was accused of using his friend, Mustapha Balogun for money ritual which resulted in the sudden death of the latter.

A First Information Report (FIR) filed by the Nigerian Police to arraign the suspects obtained by SaharaReporters said the deceased died on the 1st of February at his workplace a day after they both went for a ceremony in the promoter’s hometown.

The FIR read: “On 01/02/2024 at about 1530hrs an information was received at State Criminal Investigation Department through one Mustapha Halimat ‘f’ of behind Ilorin West Local Government, Ilorin, that on the same date about 1000hrs she received a phone call from unknown person whom she later identified as Wasiu ‘m’ a friend to her husband, that his brother one Oladele Rashidi ‘m’ called the said Wasiu and told him that her husband Mustapha Balogun ‘m’ fell at his working place at a mining site and he was rushed to hospital for medical attention, wasiu said she should joined him to proceed to the Hospital where her husband is being treated.

“But on getting to hospital she was informed that her husband Mustapha Balogun was dead before been brought to hospital. Immediate Police action led to the arrest of one Oloba Maroof Afolayan ‘m’ of Fola Daniel close Agba dam off pipeline Ilorin who claim to be the Oloba of Samora who was alleged to be behind the killing of Mustapha Balogun. Discreet investigation conducted at SCID, Ilorin revealed that Mustapha Balogun was a friend to Oloba Maroof Afolayan. During investigation you Oloba Maroof Afolayan confessed that you left Ilorin for your home town Samora with the deceased Mustapha Balogun on 31/1/2024 for your family ritual rite.

“You further confessed that on 01/02/2024 early in the morning you meet the deceased vomiting but instead of rushing the deceased to nearby hospital nor report at any police station you and some of your friends brought the deceased to Owolabi hospital Ilorin where the doctor on duty confirmed the said Mustapha Balogun dead on arrive. Investigation into the case is however ongoing. You are hereby charged for the above offences.”

According to the source, the films promoter, Afolayan, was alleged to be using his “connection” to suppress the matter.

“He is trying to do a cover-up,” the source added.

Source: Court Remands Nigerian Films Promoter In Prison For Allegedly Killing His Friend For Ritual In Kwara