A High Court in Minna has sentenced teenage housemaid, Joy Afekafe, to death for the brutal killing of Dr. Funmilayo Sherifat Adefolalu, a senior lecturer at the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna.
Justice Mohammed Adishetu Mohammed of High Court No. 4, on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, delivered judgment after convicting the defendant on two counts—armed robbery and culpable homicide—offences contrary to Sections 221 and 298 of the Penal Code.
It stated that Dr. Adefolalu was brutally killed on October 28, 2023, at her residence in the Gbaiko area of Minna, Niger State.
According to court records, Afekafe had served as a domestic worker in the home of the late academic from October 2, 2023. She was introduced to the household by Pastor Ojo Peters of the Voice of Mercy Church, which both the deceased and Joy’s mother attended.
Meanwhile, during her brief stay, Afekafe began stealing household items and foreign currency, and upon discovery, Dr. Adefolalu dismissed her from her duties.
The crime followed her dismissal after being caught stealing.
Afekafe confessed to the crime, detailing how she and her partners attacked the victim and stole her valuables.
The court held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
