Lafia, Nasarawa State – In a judgment that has gripped the nation, a High Court in Lafia, Nasarawa State, today sentenced Oluwatimileyin Ajayi, a 32-year-old music artist, to death by hanging for the gruesome murder and dismemberment of 24-year-old NYSC member Salome Eleojo Adaidu.
Presiding Judge Justice Simon Aboki delivered the ruling under Section 221 of the Penal Code, which mandates the death penalty for culpable homicide. Calling the crime “cold-blooded and beyond human comprehension,” the court held that the evidence presented was overwhelming and left no room for doubt.
Shocking Crime That Stunned the Nation
Salome Adaidu, a bright and promising young woman serving at Nicon Insurance in Abuja under the National Youth Service Corps, was last seen alive in early January. Her dismembered body was discovered days later in a chilling scene at Ajayi’s residence in Papalana, New Karshi, Karu LGA of Nasarawa State.
Ajayi was apprehended by local vigilantes near a church in Orozo on January 12, 2025, carrying a severed human head in a bag—later confirmed to be Adaidu’s. A viral video captured the moment community members interrogated him before he was handed over to police.
Investigations led to the discovery of Adaidu’s dismembered remains at Ajayi’s home, a finding that sealed the prosecution’s case and fuelled a nationwide call for justice.
Courtroom Drama and Emotional Reactions
The trial began with Ajayi pleading not guilty on January 27, 2025, a move that enraged many Nigerians who had followed the case with horror and sympathy. His defence team attempted to challenge the prosecution’s case, but the court found their arguments insufficient.
Justice Aboki emphasised the heinousness and premeditated nature of the crime, citing the physical evidence, Ajayi’s arrest while disposing of the head, and forensic testimony. “The brutality involved leaves the court with no alternative but the maximum sentence,” the judge said.
The ruling was met with emotional relief by Adaidu’s family, many of whom wept openly in court. Her sister, Patience Adaidu, rejected Ajayi’s claim that Salome had been his girlfriend. “We never knew him. He was a stranger who destroyed our family,” she said.
A Tragedy Beyond the Courtroom
Ajayi’s family did not disown him, with his 73-year-old father pleading for mercy during the trial. But public sentiment leaned heavily in favour of the maximum sentence. “This is not just about Salome,” one Twitter user wrote, “it’s about every young Nigerian woman trying to survive in this country.”
The case also reignited conversations about the safety of NYSC members, particularly female corps members posted far from home, and raised fresh concerns about how domestic violence and mental health are addressed in Nigeria.
Timeline of Events
| Event | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Murder & Arrest | January 12, 2025 | Ajayi caught with victim’s severed head near Orozo, remains found at home. |
| Arraignment | January 27, 2025 | Ajayi pleads not guilty in Lafia High Court. |
| Trial Period | March 17–20, 2025 | Prosecution presents forensic and eyewitness evidence. |
| Sentencing | June 26, 2025 | Ajayi found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging. |
Justice or Closure?
While many see the ruling as a landmark case for justice and deterrence, legal experts note that the appeals process may still delay final closure for Adaidu’s family.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Jibrin Okutekpa, who represented the family, called the judgment “a necessary reaffirmation of the sanctity of life and a warning to predators.”
As Nigeria continues to wrestle with gender-based violence, the Salome Adaidu case serves as a painful reminder of what is at stake—and what justice must look like. Her name is now etched not just in court records, but in the national conscience.
“Salome didn’t die in vain. Let this judgment be a warning: there is no hiding place for monsters.” — Family Statement
