COURT SENTENCES OLUWATIMILEHIN AJAYI TO D£ATH BY HANGING FOR MURDER OF SALOME ADAIDU
A High Court sitting in Lafia, Nasarawa State, has sentenced Oluwatimileyin Ajayi to death by hanging for the brutal murder of Salome Adaidu, a serving member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
Delivering judgment on Tuesday, Justice Simon Aboki found Ajayi guilty of culpable homicide punishable under Section 221 of the Penal Code applicable in Northern Nigeria, which prescribes the death penalty.
According to the court, Ajayi was responsible for the killing and dismemberment of the deceased, an act Justice Aboki described as “brutal and in clear violation of the law.” The court noted that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, leading to the conviction.
The tragic killing of Salome Adaidu had stirred nationwide outrage and calls for justice, particularly within NYSC circles and among youth advocacy groups. Her death reignited concerns over the safety of corps members serving in remote or volatile regions of the country.
With this ruling, many see a sense of closure being brought to a case that not only shocked the public but also highlighted the need for greater protection for young Nigerians deployed for national service.
Neither the defence counsel nor Ajayi’s family has issued a public response to the verdict as of press time.
