A High Court sitting in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, has sentenced a 32-year-old gospel singer and self-acclaimed crypto trader, Timileyin Ajayi, to death by hanging for the gruesome murder of his girlfriend, 24-year-old National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Salome Eleojo Adaidu.
Justice Simon Aboki delivered the chilling verdict on Thursday, after finding Ajayi guilty of the brutal killing of Salome, who was serving in Abuja at the time of her death.
Ajayi had been charged with one count of culpable homicide, contrary to Section 221 of the Penal Code of Northern Nigeria and punishable by death.
He was arrested on Sunday, January 12, in New Karshi, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State after was caught red-handed while attempting to dispose of the severed head of the slain corps member, whom he claimed was his lover.
The incident occurred at his residence in the Papalana axis of New Karshi, where Salome had allegedly gone to visit him.
According to the police, Ajayi not only murdered the young woman but also dismembered her body.
Eyewitnesses at the police parade in February recall that Ajayi showed no remorse, but confessed to journalists that he killed the Corper.
“I killed her because we don’t have each other all the time. It’s not something I planned. It happened on that day. Not that I had the plan in mind. She was cheating,” he said.
She hides most things from me. I saw her chats with other guys on her phone—that was why I decided,” he added.
Submitting their final addresses before on May 20, Justice Aboki, Ajayi’s counsel, Joseph Tuku Bisson, argued that the prosecution had failed to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt and prayed the court to discharge and acquit his client.
But the prosecuting counsel, Joseph Kigbu, countered with firm conviction, urging the court to convict the defendant based on what he described as “overwhelming evidence” pointing to Ajayi’s guilt.
Delivering Judgement, Justice Aboki found Ajayi guilty of culpable homicide and sentenced him to death by hanging, noting that the brutality of the crime demanded the full weight of the law.
“The evidence before the court clearly shows that the accused intentionally caused the death of the deceased. The law is clear on this, and the punishment is death. Therefore, the accused is hereby sentenced to death by hanging,” Justice Aboki ruled.