A High Court in Lafia, Nasarawa State, has sentenced gospel singer Oluwatimileyin Ajayi to death by hanging for the murder of National Youth Service Corps member, Salome Adaidu.
Justice Simon Aboki gave the judgment on Thursday, saying the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt. The court found that Ajayi not only killed the corps member but also cut her body into parts after the act.
“This court finds the accused guilty beyond reasonable doubt. The evidence presented by the prosecution clearly shows that the defendant committed this heinous crime. He is hereby sentenced to death by hanging,” the judge said in the ruling.
Ajayi was convicted under Section 221 of the Penal Code, which carries the death penalty for anyone found guilty of culpable homicide in Northern Nigeria.
The case attracted public attention because of the shocking details of the crime and the fact that the victim was serving Nigeria under the NYSC programme when she was killed.
A court official, who did not want to be named, said, “The victim was full of promise and was dedicated to serving her country. What happened to her was horrifying, and today, justice has finally been served.”
The state prosecution welcomed the ruling, calling it a win for justice. “This judgment is a warning that such acts of brutality will not go unpunished,” a member of the team said.
