Justice Olugboyega Ogunfowora of the Ogun State High Court in Abeokuta today sentenced Mustakeem Balogun and Soliudeen Majekodunmi to death by hanging for the ritualistic murder of 16-year-old Sofia Okeowo.
Their accomplice, Lukmon Abdulgafar, received a life imprisonment sentence for his involvement in the horrific crime, which occurred on January 28, 2022.
The judgment was disclosed by the Ogun State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Mr. Oluwasina Ogungbade, in a statement released to journalists on Friday.
According to the prosecution, Sofia Okeowo had gone to visit her boyfriend, Mustakeem Balogun, on the day of the incident.
After having sexual intercourse with her, Balogun, with the assistance of Soliudeen Majekodunmi, viciously attacked and strangled Sofia before beheading her.
The gruesome act continued as parts of Sofia’s thighs were severed, and her headless body was stuffed into a sack.
Her head was then taken to Lukmon Abdulgafar’s house, where attempts were made to burn it with a local burner.
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The chilling details of the crime first came to light in January 2022 when a viral video surfaced online. The footage showed the trio being apprehended by community guards, with Sofia’s head burning in the local burner as they recited incantations over her corpse.
In his statement, Attorney General Ogungbade emphasized the state’s commitment to ensuring justice for victims of heinous crimes.murd
“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 statement read.
“The dastardly act which occurred on January 28th 2022, around Kugba, Abeokuta, saw Mustakeem Balogun lure 16-year-old Sofia to have carnal knowledge of her and later kill her in preparation for a premeditated money ritual charms.”
Justice Ogunfowora found all three individuals guilty of the crime, with Balogun and Majekodunmi receiving the death penalty and Abdulgafar a life sentence.
The Commissioner further reiterated that the current administration has zero tolerance for crime, particularly ritualistic killings, stating that securing this conviction serves as a strong deterrent to other perpetrators of such acts.
