Gladness Gideon
A High Court sitting in Lafia, Nasarawa State, has sentenced gospel singer Oluwatimileyin Ajayi to death by hanging for the murder of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Salome Adaidu.
The judgment, delivered by Justice Simon Aboki, followed a detailed trial in which Ajayi was found guilty of culpable homicide punishable under Section 221 of the Penal Code applicable in Northern Nigeria. The court held that the prosecution had proven beyond reasonable doubt that Ajayi brutally killed and dismembered the corps member in his residence in New Karu, Nasarawa State.
The case, which has drawn national outrage, involved harrowing details of how the young woman was murdered and her body parts concealed. According to evidence presented in court, the crime occurred on January 12, 2024, and was discovered after concerned neighbors reported suspicious activities at the defendant’s residence.
Ajayi, once known for his evangelical music career, was arrested shortly after the crime and has remained in custody throughout the proceedings. During the trial, eyewitnesses, forensic reports, and confessional statements were tendered as part of the prosecution’s case. The judge described the act as “heinous, premeditated, and utterly inhumane.”
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Justice Aboki ruled that the punishment must reflect the gravity of the offence, noting that the death of Salome Adaidu, a young woman serving her country, was both tragic and avoidable.
The court’s ruling has been welcomed by human rights advocates and NYSC officials, who have called for greater protection of corps members across Nigeria. Meanwhile, the defense counsel has indicated an intention to appeal the judgment at the Court of Appeal.
The sentencing brings a measure of closure to a case that has shaken the public and renewed calls for justice in cases of gender-based violence and abuse of power by public figures.