By Titilope Adako

A High Court in Lafia, Nasarawa State, has sentenced Oluwatimileyin Ajayi to death by hanging for the murder of Salome Adaidu, a 24-year-old National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member.

Justice Simon Aboki, who delivered the judgement on Thursday, found the 32-year-old guilty of culpable homicide, contrary to Section 221 of the Penal Code of Northern Nigeria.

Ajayi was convicted for killing and dismembering Adaidu, whom he claimed was his girlfriend. She had reportedly visited him at his residence in the Papalana area of New Karshi, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, before she was killed.ed

The tragic incident occurred in January 2025 while Adaidu was serving with Nicon Insurance in Abuja.

Ajayi was arrested on Sunday, January 12, while allegedly attempting to dispose of Salome’s head after the killing. The police also paraded him alongside the knife and machetes believed to have been used in committing the crime.

During an earlier interview with Channels Television, Ajayi confessed to the killing, stating, “Yes, 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.”

He accused Adaidu of cheating, saying he discovered chats with other men on her phone. “She hides most things from me most times,” he said.

When asked if he regretted his actions, he responded, “I don’t have any regrets because life is reciprocal… if you must do something to someone, you have to be reciprocal with that person.”

The court’s verdict comes months after the incident sparked widespread outrage and calls for justice from the victim’s family and the public.