Court sentences Salome Adaidu’s killer to death by hanging
The High Court in Lafia, Nasarawa State, has sentenced Oluwatimileyin Ajayi to death by hanging for the gruesome murder of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member Salome Adaidu.
Presiding over the case, Justice Simon Aboki delivered the ruling on Thursday, June 26, stating that the prosecution had successfully proven its case beyond reasonable doubt. The court found Ajayi guilty of killing and dismembering the young corps member, a crime that shocked the nation earlier this year.
Ajayi, a self-described gospel singer, fitness enthusiast, and motivational content creator, was arrested on Sunday, January 12, 2025, near a church in Orozo—a border town between Nasarawa and the Federal Capital Territory. He was caught carrying a sack containing Salome’s severed head.
Following his arrest, Ajayi led police investigators to the location where he had hidden the remaining dismembered parts of the victim’s body.
He was charged with one count of culpable homicide, contrary to Section 221 of the Penal Code applicable in Northern Nigeria, which prescribes the death penalty.
Throughout the trial, Ajayi was seen attempting to maintain a religious demeanor, with footage from one of the sessions showing him praying silently in court. However, the judge dismissed the display, focusing instead on the overwhelming evidence linking him to the brutal murder.
Justice Aboki concluded that Ajayi’s actions were premeditated and heinous, and ordered that he be executed by hanging.
The tragic case has reignited public outrage over violence against women and NYSC members, with many calling for stronger protections and swifter justice in similar cases.
