An Ogun State High Court sitting on Friday, under Justice Olugboyega Ogunfowora in Abeokuta has sentenced Mustakeem Balogun and Soliudeen Majekodunmi to death by hanging for involvement in ritual killing.

At the same time, Lukmon Abdulgafar bagged life imprisonment over the murder of 16-year-old Sofia Okeowo at Kugba area, Abeokuta, on January 28, 2022.

This was disclosed in a statement by the state Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Mr Oluwasina Ogungbade, to journalists on Friday.

After Sofia was declared missing, in a viral video, the trio cut parts of her thighs and stuffed her headless body into a sack, after which her head was taken to Lukmon’s house to be burnt with a local burner.

They were caught while burning the head as they recited incantations over her corpse.

The commissioner’s statement read, “Today, July 11, 2025, the trio of Mustakeem Balogun, Soliudeen Majekodunmi, and Lukmon

Abdulgafar faces the full wrath of the law over the gruesome killing of Sofia Okeowo.

“The dastardly act which occurred on January 28th 2022, around Kugba, Abeokuta saw Mustakeem Balogun lure 16-year-old Sofia to have canal knowledge of her and later kill her in preparation for a premeditated money ritual charms.

“The two other culprits are Soliudeen Majekodunmi and Lukman Abdulgafar.

“Justice Olugboyega Ogunfowora of the Ogun State High Court has, however, found the trio guilty of the crime committed and has therefore sentenced Mustakeem Balogun and Soliudeen Majekodunmi to death by hanging while Lukman Abdulgafar received a life sentence.”

In conclusion, he reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to curbing crime citing the conviction of the trio as an evidence to serve as a deterrent to other ritualists.