A High Court in Lafia, Nasarawa State, has sentenced Oluwatimileyin Ajayi to death by hanging for the brutal murder of Salome Adaidu, a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). Presiding over the case, Justice Simon Aboki ruled that Ajayi was guilty of the murder and dismemberment of the 24-year-old corps member. Ajayi faced a single count of culpable homicide, which violates Section 221 of the Penal Code applicable in Northern Nigeria and carries the death penalty.
The 32-year-old suspect was arrested in connection with the killing of his alleged girlfriend, Salome Adaidu, who was serving with Nicon Insurance in Abuja before her untimely death.
Salome was reportedly killed after visiting Ajayi at his residence located in the Papalana area of New Karshi, within Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
Ajayi was apprehended on Sunday, January 12, 2025, while allegedly attempting to dispose of Salome's severed head. Authorities say he had dismembered her body following her murder at his home.
The police later paraded Ajayi alongside the knife and machetes believed to have been used in carrying out the heinous act.
In an interview with Channels Television, when asked whether he committed the murder, Ajayi confessed, "Yes," and explained that the act was not premeditated but stemmed from emotional conflict.
"I killed her because we don't have each other all the time, it's not something I planned. It happened on that day and it happened. Not that I have the plan in mind, she was cheating.
"She hides most of the things from me most time. I got to know from her phone. I saw her chats with other guys on the phone, that was why I decided," he said.
"I don't have any regrets because life is reciprocal, that is what I thought, if you must do something to someone, you have to be reciprocal with that person.
"You have to understand what that person is going through so that you can put yourself in the position that the person is going through," he added.