A High Court sitting in Lafia has sentenced Oluwatimileyin Ajayi to death by hanging for the brutal murder of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member Salome Adaidu.
Justice Simon Aboki, who delivered the judgment on Thursday, ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt, finding Ajayi guilty of culpable homicide punishable under Section 221 of the Penal Code.
Ajayi, a self-acclaimed gospel singer, fitness enthusiast, and motivational content creator, was arrested on Sunday, January 12, 2025, near a church in Orozo—a town on the border between Nasarawa State and the Federal Capital Territory. He was found in possession of a sack containing the severed head of the victim.
Following his arrest, he led police to a location where the remaining parts of Salome Adaidu’s dismembered body were recovered.
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The gruesome killing shocked the nation and sparked outrage, particularly among NYSC members and advocacy groups calling for justice and greater protection for corps members.
During his court appearances, Ajayi was reported to have displayed religious posturing, including praying openly during proceedings. However, Justice Aboki dismissed these acts as irrelevant to the overwhelming evidence against him.
Delivering the sentence, the judge declared, “The court finds the defendant guilty of culpable homicide. The facts before this court are horrifying, and the evidence presented has left no doubt about his responsibility for this heinous act. The defendant is hereby sentenced to death by hanging.”