The Police have disclosed disturbing details regarding a conspiracy involving 35-year-old Sunday Sojunu and Dare Sampson to murder Ayoola Bello, who was allegedly involved with Sojunu's wife, in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State.
These details emerged in the murder charges presented against the defendants at the Ebute-Meta Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Wednesday.
The defendants face three counts related to the alleged murder of 45-year-old Bello, whom they kidnapped and held captive after enticing him to their residence in Ikorodu.
Police prosecutor ASP Kehinde Olatunde stated that the defendants were arrested on December 8 for their involvement in the crime.
Describing the events leading to the murder as outlined in the court charges, the prosecutor explained, "Toyin, a TikTok content creator, met the victim, Mr. Ayoola Bello, on social media, and they quickly became friends eager to meet in person.
"On September 15, under the pretense of traveling to Cotonou, Benin Republic, Toyin instead went directly to Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, to visit the deceased, spending two days with him at a local hotel.
"Following this, both Toyin and her husband fell seriously ill, unable to find a cure for their persistent ailments, which were attributed to her infidelity.
"She later confessed to her husband about her affair, seeking forgiveness in hopes of alleviating their illness," he stated.
The prosecutor further mentioned that the husband pressured his wife to bring the deceased to their home in Ikorodu.
"Prior to this, he had hired an accomplice, a notorious cultist and hitman wanted by the police, to help him kill the victim.
"They held the man captive, demanding a ransom of N200,000 from his family before binding and torturing him.
"They forced him to drink a lethal substance, which led to his death.
"His dismembered arms and legs were placed in sacks, separated from the torso, and transported by motorcycle to a remote location at Adamo Junction, where the body parts were discarded in a river," he explained.
These actions violate sections 165, 222, and 233 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015, with section 222 prescribing the death penalty for murder upon conviction.
However, the defendants did not enter pleas.
Magistrate Mrs. O. O Adeosun ordered the male defendants to be held at Ikoyi and the female defendant at the KiriKiri Correctional Facility while awaiting legal advice.
The court also instructed that the case file be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for further guidance.
The case has been adjourned until January 21, 2026.
