By Wealth Oghenemaro
Justice Simon Aboki of the High Court in Lafia, Nasarawa State, has sentenced a gospel singer, Oluwatimileyin Ajayi, to death by hanging for the gruesome murder of his girlfriend, Miss Salome Adaidu, a serving member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
Ajayi, who was arraigned on a one-count charge of culpable homicide, was convicted under Section 221 of the Penal Code applicable in Northern Nigeria, which prescribes the death penalty for intentional murder.
The tragic case, which shocked many in Nasarawa and beyond, involved the brutal killing and dismemberment of Adaidu’s body. Public suspicion initially pointed toward ritual motives, a theory that has become increasingly common in high-profile murder cases in Nigeria. However, during trial proceedings, Ajayi claimed he acted out of rage, accusing the deceased of infidelity.
The court found the defendant’s confession and the overwhelming evidence presented by the prosecution sufficient to convict him. The judge held that the killing was deliberate, premeditated, and without justification.
Salome Adaidu’s murder sparked outrage in 2023 when her remains were discovered days after she was declared missing. She had been serving in Nasarawa as part of the compulsory national service programme. The NYSC and several civil society organisations had called for a thorough investigation and swift justice at the time.
The verdict brings closure to a deeply disturbing case that not only highlighted the dangers young women face in relationships but also renewed calls for mental health support and stricter measures against gender-based violence in Nigeria.
