A High Court in Lafia, Nasarawa State has sentenced Oluwatimileyin Ajayi, a gospel singer, to death by hanging after finding him guilty of the gruesome murder and dismemberment of National Youth Service Corps member Salome Adaidu. Justice Simon Aboki ruled that the prosecution proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Ajayi attacked Adaidu at his residence, killed her, and later attempted to dispose of her remains charges he later confessed to, stating the act was fueled by jealousy after discovering her chats with other men.
During the trial, Ajayi had claimed he was unconscious when writing a confession, but the court dismissed this, holding him fully responsible. He was convicted under Section 221 of the Northern Nigeria Penal Code, which mandates the death penalty for culpable homicide. Witnesses testified that he was arrested carrying Adaidu’s severed head in a plastic bag following her visit to his apartment. Despite Ajayi expressing no remorse citing “reciprocity” in his actions, the court emphasized that his justification did not mitigate the severity of the crime. With the sentence handed down, legal observers note that Ajayi has the right to appeal before execution proceedings can begin.
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