16-Year-Old Girl Sentenced to Life for Killing FUTMINNA Lecturer at Age 14
A Niger State High Court has sentenced 16-year-old girl – Joy Afekafe to life imprisonment for the brutal killing of Dr. Mrs. Funmilayo Sherifat Adefolalu, a lecturer at the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna. The murder occurred in 2023 when Joy was just 14 years old.
Justice Mohammed Adishetu Mohammed of Minna High Court No. 4, while delivering judgment on Wednesday, ruled that the prosecution had proven beyond reasonable doubt that the lecturer was murdered by the 16-year-old girl – Joy and two of her friends, now at large.
“The death of Dr. Funmilayo Sherifat Adefolalu was caused by the convict and her friends using knives and a wooden stool with the intent to kill her,” the judge declared.
The court found her guilty of culpable homicide punishable by death under Section 221 of the Penal Code and armed robbery. However, due to her age at the time of the offense (under 18), she was spared the death penalty and sentenced instead to life imprisonment for homicide and 10 years for armed robbery.
According to the Niger State Police Command, Joy had previously worked as a housemaid for the victim before being dismissed for misconduct. She later conspired with two classmates identified only as Walex and Smart to attack the lecturer.
The police recovered two bloodstained knives from the crime scene. PPRO Wasiu Abiodun revealed that during interrogation, Joy confessed to the crime and disclosed the plan she hatched with her classmates, who remain at large.
The case has sparked nationwide conversations around juvenile justice, mental health, and the vulnerability of women in domestic work environments.
