A High Court sitting in Lafia, Nasarawa State, has sentenced 32-year-old gospel singer, Oluwatimileyin Ajayi, to death by hanging for the brutal murder of Salome Adaidu, a 24-year-old National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member.

Delivering the judgment, Justice Simon Aboki found Ajayi guilty of culpable homicide, contrary to Section 221 of the Penal Code applicable in Northern Nigeria. The court established that Ajayi murdered and dismembered Adaidu at his residence in the Papalana area of New Karshi.

The gruesome case sparked national outrage, especially among youth and gender-based violence advocacy groups, after Adaidu’s dismembered body was discovered.

Despite pleading not guilty, Ajayi reportedly displayed no remorse during the trial. The prosecution, later taken over by the Nasarawa State Government, presented compelling evidence and witness testimonies leading to the conviction.

The ruling has been welcomed as a significant step toward justice, bringing some relief to the bereaved family and the shocked Papalada community. Justice Aboki, in his pronouncement, reaffirmed the judiciary’s role in delivering justice to victims of violent crimes.