JUST IN: Ex-Gospel Singer Sentenced to Death by Hanging for Murder of Corps Member Salome Adaidu

The High Court in Lafia, Nasarawa State, has sentenced former gospel singer, Oluwatimileyin Ajayi, to death by hanging for the murder of Salome Adaidu, a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

Delivering judgment on Thursday, Justice Simon Aboki found Ajayi guilty of culpable homicide punishable under Section 221 of the Penal Code of Northern Nigeria, which carries the mandatory sentence of death.

Ajayi, who once gained attention in Christian music circles for his 2020 single *God of the Earth*, was arrested earlier this year after he was caught transporting the dismembered head of the 24-year-old victim near a church in the New Karshi area of the state.

According to police reports and witness accounts presented during the trial, Ajayi confessed to killing Adaidu following a dispute. He later dismembered her body and attempted to conceal evidence by moving parts of it away from the scene.

The prosecution established that the crime was premeditated and committed with intent to kill, while the defense failed to convince the court otherwise. Despite initially pleading not guilty, Ajayi showed no remorse throughout the trial proceedings.

The case sparked widespread outrage across the country, especially among youth groups and gender-based violence advocates, who had closely followed the developments.

Salome Adaidu was serving her mandatory one-year NYSC assignment in Nasarawa State when her life was tragically cut short.

More to follow……