Court sentences Timileyin Ajayi to d3ath for murder of Salome Adaidu

 

The High Court in Lafia has sentenced gospel singer Oluwatimileyin “Timileyin” Ajayi to d3ath by hanging for the brutal m#rder and dismemberment of 24-year-old NYSC corps member, Salome Adaidu

Delivering the verdict, Justice Simon Aboki found Ajayi guilty of culpable homicide, contrary to Section 221 of the Northern Nigeria Penal Code.

Ajayi was accused of killing Adaidu at his residence in Papalana, New Karshi, on January 12, 2025. The case sent shockwaves across the country, not just for the horrific nature of the crime, but because the accused was a gospel musician with a seemingly clean public image.

According to reports, Ajayi was caught while trying to dispose of the dismembered remains of the victim. During police interrogation, he allegedly confessed, saying, “She was my girlfriend. She was always cheating on me,” before adding chillingly, “I have no regrets.”

Despite the overwhelming evidence, including the discovery of the severed body, Ajayi pleaded not guilty when arraigned. The trial featured tense courtroom moments, with Ajayi seen clutching a Bible and praying quietly, even as the victim’s grieving family and shocked onlookers looked on.

The case, first reported on January 27, 2025, drew widespread attention, reigniting conversations around gender-based violence and the safety of young women, particularly corps members serving in remote areas.

With the court’s ruling now delivered, many Nigerians are calling it a moment of justice for Salome Adaidu and a warning that violent crimes—no matter the status of the perpetrator—will not go unpunished.