The Kwara State Magistrate court, presided over by Chief Magistrate Muhammed Ibrahim, on Monday, sentenced a popular Prophet,Gabriel Josaya to 4 years imprisonment for dealing in human part.
Ibrahim sentenced Josaya who is popularly called Eli Wakuku to 4 years imprisonment with no option of fine.
Josaya was sentenced with his accomplice, Gabriel Moyosore, a native doctor, who bought human skulls from him.
Josaya was a founder of St. Moses Orimolade Cherubim and Serafim Church, Ilorin.
They were both convicted for the offence of conspiracy, trespass and unlawful possession of human parts.
The Police First Information (FIR) report revealed that Josaya unlawfully gain entrance into the cemetery where he exhumed human skulls and sold to various customers at the rate of N8,000 per skull.
Human skull was however discovered in Moyosore’s possession and he has confessed to the crime, the FIR added.
Meanwhile, the convicts counsel, Toyin Onanolapo said he would have to make proper consultation as to whether to appeal the judgement or not.
It would be recalled that the Investigation Police Officer (IPO), Peter Ibiyemi, had told the court in his evidence that Eli Wakuku, confessed before the police that he had exhumed over 200 human skulls from the Muslim Cementry, at Osere area of Ilorin.
He added that Josaya began the business in 2009 and that he carried out his operation mainly at night and singlehandedly.
According to Ibiyemi, for each operation, he paid N10,000 to the cemetery security night guard.
He also stated that Eli-Wakuku confessed to have sold the skull for N6,000 each to a native doctor, Moyosore.
During the cross examination then, the counsel to Eli-Wakuku, Ibrahim Olojoku, argued that the statement obtained from his client was not voluntary.
Olojoku, who claimed to have witnessed the torture of the accused by the police, added that he gave the statement under duress.
It would also be recalled that in 2016, Eli-Wakuku was dragged with his accomplice before Magistrate Kudirat Yahya for criminal conspiracy, criminal trespass and unlawful possession of human heads contrary to section 97, 348 and 219 of Penal Code Law.
The case was transferred to Chief Magistrate Muhammed Ibrahim on the same count charge in 2018.
