Nasarawa High Court Sentences Timileyin Ajayi to Death by Hanging for Murdering Corps Member Salome Adaidu

A Nasarawa State High Court in Lafia on Thursday delivered a grim verdict: gospel singer Oluwatimileyin (Timileyin) Ajayi, 31, has been sentenced to death by hanging after being found guilty of murdering and dismembering 24-year-old National Youth Service Corps member, Salome Adaidu.

According to court testimony presented by the prosecution, Ajayi killed Adaidu at his residence in Papaladna village, Karshi Development Area, under the Karu Local Government Area. He was then allegedly caught by churchgoers while attempting to dispose of her severed head in a polythene bag in Agwan Sarki, Orozo.

Justice Simon Aboki presided over the case and found that Ajayi’s claim—that he had been unconscious when making his confession—was unsupported by evidence. Ajayi was convicted under Section 221 of the Northern Nigeria Penal Code, which prescribes a death sentence for culpable homicide through dismemberment.

“The law is clear… Therefore, the accused is hereby sentenced to death by hanging,” Justice Aboki ruled.

Ajayi’s defense argued that his confession was involuntary and that he lost consciousness during the alleged incident—but the court rejected these claims as unsubstantiated.

Why This Matters

• High-profile case: The verdict has drawn national attention due to the victim’s NYSC status and the brutal nature of the crime.
• Legal precedent: The rare use of the death by hanging sentence for culpable homicide via dismemberment underscores the judiciary’s zero-tolerance stance.
• Public safety concerns: The case raises serious questions about societal violence and the effectiveness of law enforcement in Nigeria.