A High Court sitting in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, on Thursday sentenced a gospel singer, Oluwatimileyin Ajayi, to death by hanging for the brutal murder of his girlfriend, 24-year-old Salome Adaidu, who was a serving corps member at the time of her death.
Delivering the judgment, the presiding judge, Justice Simon Aboki, ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond every reasonable doubt, establishing that Ajayi, 31, murdered Adaidu at his residence in Papaladna village, Karshi Development Area, under the Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.
“The law is clear on this, and the punishment is death. Therefore, the accused is hereby sentenced to death by hanging,” Justice Aboki declared.
Ajayi was convicted under Section 221 of the Penal Code of Northern Nigeria, which prescribes the death penalty for murder.
Following the ruling, the prosecuting counsel, Raymond Umaru, welcomed the verdict. Speaking to reporters after a prior court session on May 20, 2025, he had urged the court to impose the maximum sentence, citing compelling evidence including the confessional statement and corroborating witness testimonies.
“Our submission is that Exhibit L is consistent with other facts presented by the prosecution’s witnesses. We urged the court to look at these facts and apply the full weight of the law,” Umaru said.
On the other hand, the defense counsel, Joseph Tuku-Bisong, had appealed for Ajayi’s acquittal, arguing that the exhibits—including a machete and small knives presented as Exhibit N_1 and N_2—should not carry probative value. He maintained that while the items were admitted in evidence, they were insufficient to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
“The matter borders on three exhibits. Our prayer to the court was that the defendant should be discharged and acquitted based on the lack of probative weight attached to those exhibits,” Tuku-Bisong argued.
However, the court disagreed, concluding that the totality of the evidence presented overwhelmingly proved that the defendant was responsible for the murder.
The sentencing brings a tragic end to a case that has drawn widespread attention across Nasarawa State and beyond, highlighting ongoing concerns about violence in intimate relationships.
— Hobnob News
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