A High Court sitting in Lafia, Nasarawa State, has sentenced 31-year-old gospel singer, Timileyin Ajayi, to death by hanging for the murder of Salome Adaidu, a female corps member.
Justice Simon Aboki delivered the sentence after finding Ajayi guilty of culpable homicide, which led to Adaidu’s death on January 11, 2025.
The case, originally brought by the police on March 10, 2025, was later taken over by the Nasarawa State Government. Ajayi was charged with one count of culpable homicide, an offence punishable by death under Section 221 of the Penal Code.
Despite pleading not guilty, Ajayi was convicted based on overwhelming evidence presented by the prosecution. The prosecution called five witnesses (PW1 to PW5) and submitted several exhibits, including videos of the victim’s dismembered body, a cutlass, knives, a handbag, the victim’s clothes and phones. These were marked as Exhibits A through P.
Ajayi testified in his own defense but did not present any exhibits.
Upon conclusion of the trial, the court found him guilty and sentenced him to death by hanging. In his ruling, Justice Aboki stated that the evidence clearly showed that Ajayi was responsible for the killing and dismemberment of the deceased.
Following the judgment, Ajayi’s lawyer, Umaru Yunisah, acknowledged that they had done their best in defense, but the court had delivered its verdict. He noted that it was now up to the convict to appeal the ruling.
Meanwhile, the prosecuting counsel, Raymond Umaru, commended the court for upholding justice and enforcing the law.
The victim’s uncle, Samson Adaidu, expressed satisfaction with the judgment and thanked Nigerians for their support throughout the trial.
Timileyin Ajayi has 90 days to appeal the court’s decision.
Editor : Ena Agbanoma
