The High Court sitting in Lafia, Nasarawa State, has sentenced Oluwatimileyin Ajayi to death by hanging for the brutal killing and dismemberment of a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Salome Adaidu.
On Thursday, Justice Simon Aboki delivered the judgment after months of legal proceedings. The judge found Ajayi guilty of intentionally killing the young corps member in his home. The court agreed with the prosecuting team that the case was clearly proven beyond reasonable doubt, and Ajayi committed the offence without any just cause.
The court dismissed Ajayi’s claim that he was unconscious when he allegedly made a confession to the police. He had earlier said he blacked out after spending time with his girlfriend and did not know what he was doing. However, the court did not believe this claim, stating that it was not strong enough to be accepted as evidence.
Justice Aboki noted that the defendant was convicted under Section 221 of the Penal Code, which carries the death sentence for those found guilty of causing the death of another person deliberately. He then declared, “The law is clear on this, and the punishment is death. Therefore, the accused is hereby sentenced to death by hanging.”
Ajayi was first arrested in the Orozo area, a border town between Abuja and Nasarawa State. According to reports, he was caught by worshippers while holding a polythene bag that contained the head of the deceased. Shocked by what they saw, they handed him over to the police.
Police officers later searched Ajayi’s residence in New Karshi, Karu Local Government Area, where they reportedly discovered the rest of Salome’s body. Investigations also revealed that the killing took place at Ajayi’s apartment during a visit by the victim.
Following his arrest, Ajayi gave a chilling confession in a recorded interview that was widely shared on social media. He claimed the murder was not planned but happened suddenly out of jealousy. “I killed her because we don’t have each other all the time. It’s not something I planned. It happened on that day, and it happened. Not that I had the plan in mind, she was cheating,” he said.
“She hides most of the things from me most time. I got to know from her phone. I saw her chats with other guys on the phone, that was why I decided,” Ajayi further added.
