In a landmark judgment delivered on Thursday, the High Court sitting in Lafia, Nasarawa State, sentenced Oluwatimileyin Ajayi to death by hanging for the brutal killing of a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Miss Salome Adaidu.
Presiding judge, Justice Simon Aboki, found Ajayi guilty of culpable homicide after a detailed trial that uncovered the harrowing details of the crime. According to the court, the prosecution provided overwhelming evidence establishing that the convict not only murdered the young corps member but also mutilated her remains in a calculated and disturbing act.
The offense, which falls under Section 221 of the Penal Code applicable in Northern Nigeria, carries the ultimate penalty. Justice Aboki noted that the court had no discretion in sentencing, given the gravity of the crime and the clear provisions of the law.
Ajayi was arraigned on a single count of culpable homicide and had been held in custody during the duration of the trial. The case attracted national attention due to the particularly heinous nature of the killing and the victim’s status as a youth corps member serving the nation.
Miss Adaidu’s death sparked outrage within and beyond Nasarawa State, with civil society groups and human rights advocates demanding swift justice.
With the sentencing concluded, court officials stated that further proceedings would follow in line with procedural requirements.
More updates to follow as information becomes available.
