A High Court in Lafia, Nasarawa State, has sentenced gospel singer Timileyin Ajayi to death by hanging for the murder of Salome Adaidu, a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
Justice Simon Aboki delivered the judgment on Friday, finding Ajayi guilty of culpable homicide punishable by death under Section 221 of the Penal Code applicable in northern Nigeria.
The tragic case drew national attention in January when Ajayi was arrested after being caught with the severed head of Adaidu in a polythene bag at Agwan Sarki, Orozo, near the border of Nasarawa State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
During interrogation, Ajayi admitted to killing Adaidu in a fit of rage after allegedly discovering she was cheating on him. "I didn’t plan to kill her. She hides most things from me... I got angry seeing her chats with other guys,” he confessed.
Despite his confession, Ajayi pleaded not guilty in court. However, the judge ruled that the evidence presented, including his confession and the manner of the crime, warranted the maximum penalty.
The family of the deceased disputed Ajayi’s claim that he was in a relationship with Salome, saying she never dated the gospel singer.
The court’s decision brings closure to a case that sparked outrage across the country and renewed calls for justice for victims of gender-based violence.
