Court Sentences Timileyin Ajayi to Death for Murder of NYSC Member

A High Court in Lafia, Nasarawa State, has sentenced Oluwatimileyin Ajayi, a gospel singer, to death by hanging for the brutal murder of Salome Adaidu, a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

The court, presided over by Justice Simon Aboki, found Ajayi guilty of culpable homicide after a detailed investigation and trial. The prosecution proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Ajayi killed and dismembered Adaidu, whose severed head was found in a polythene bag in the Agwan Sarki area, near the border between Nasarawa State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Ajayi, 34, was arrested in January when authorities discovered him with the victim’s dismembered head. During interrogation, Ajayi confessed to the crime, claiming that he had been in a romantic relationship with Adaidu for over a year. However, the victim’s family rejected his account, insisting their daughter had no such relationship with the accused.

Delivering the judgment, Justice Aboki stated that the murder was “premeditated and heinous,” emphasizing the brutality of the crime. He further condemned the act as a violation of the victim’s dignity and the sanctity of life.

The murder of Adaidu has reignited discussions on gender-based violence and the vulnerability of young women in Nigeria with calls for stronger laws and greater protection for young women.