A teenage domestic worker, Joy Afekafe, has been sentenced to death by hanging for her role in the gruesome murder of Dr. Funmilayo Sherifat Adefolalu, a senior lecturer at the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna.
According to court documents, the tragic incident occurred on October 28, 2023, in the Gbaiko area of Minna. Joy, who had been working in the lecturer’s home since October 2, 2023, was dismissed after stealing household items and foreign currency. Seeking revenge, she conspired with two male accomplices — DJ Wallex and DJ Smart (still at large) — to rob and kill the academic.
During her confession to the Homicide Squad of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Joy admitted to stabbing the lecturer multiple times alongside her accomplices. When the victim tried to resist with a wooden stool, the attackers overpowered her, used the stool to strike her head, and left her lifeless. They fled with a laptop, mobile phones, and foreign currencies.
Delivering judgment on July 9, 2025, Justice Mohammed Adishetu Mohammed of High Court 4, Minna, ruled that the prosecution had proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
“I hold that the prosecution was able to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Dr. Funmilayo Sherifat Adefolalu was murdered by the convict and her accomplices, using knives and a wooden stool with the intent to kill,” Justice Mohammed stated.
Joy was convicted under sections 221 and 298 of the Penal Code for armed robbery and culpable homicide.
The case has sparked outrage and drawn public attention to the dangers of unverified domestic workers. Authorities have yet to apprehend the remaining suspects.
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