I exhume corpses, sell skulls, Ogun man jailed 8yrs tells court

The man told an Ogun court that he was suffering from a generational curse.

A 42-year-old man, Sikiru Alimi, was on Wednesday sentenced to eight years imprisonment by an Abeokuta Chief Magistrates’ Court for illegal possession of human skulls.

Chief Magistrate Ayoadele Ayobolu sentenced Mr. Alimi after he pleaded guilty to a four-count charge of conspiracy, misdemeanour to wit misconduct, illegal possession of human skull and illegal exhumation of human body.

Mr. Ayobolu sentenced Alimi to two years imprisonment on each count, adding that the term was to be served concurrently.

The Police Prosecutor, Banji Sangotokun, had told the court that the offences were committed on June 30, 2012 at about 2 a.m. at Isale-Itoko in Abeokuta.

He said that the convict, who had no fixed address, illegally exhumed the corpse of one Jimoh Ogunmolu for ritual purpose.

“Nemesis caught up with him (Alimi) when his phone mistakenly dropped at the grave site of Ogunmolu and the police used the phone to arrest him.

“Three human skulls were found in Alimi’s possession,” the prosecutor said.

He said the offences committed by Alimi contravened Sections 517, 242, 516 and 329 of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun, 2006.

Mr. Alimi, who did not have legal representation, pleaded guilty to the four-count charge.

He also confessed in court that he was a “specialist” in excavating corpses from graveyards and cutting off their skulls for ritual purpose.

“I sell the skulls at Itoku market at the rate of N5,000 each to my partner who is now at large,’’ Mr. Alimi said.

He begged the court for leniency, saying he had children to cater for as his wife was dead.

The convict also claimed that his criminal act was as a result of a generational curse placed on him.

NAN