A High Court sitting in Lafia, Nasarawa State, has sentenced Oluwatimileyin Ajayi to death by hanging for the gruesome murder and dismemberment of Salome Adaidu, a serving corps member with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).
Justice Simon Aboki delivered the ruling on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, after months of trial that gripped national attention. The court found Ajayi guilty of culpable homicide, in violation of Section 221 of the Penal Code of Northern Nigeria, which prescribes the death penalty for such offenses.
According to court records, Ajayi brutally killed Salome Adaidu, dismembered her body, and attempted to cover up the crime before being arrested by police in 2024 following an intensive investigation. The NYSC member had been serving her mandatory national youth service in Nasarawa State when the tragic incident occurred.
During the trial, the prosecution presented forensic evidence, eyewitness testimonies, and Ajayi’s own confessional statements, which left little doubt about his culpability. The judge, while delivering the judgment, described the act as “barbaric, cold-blooded, and deserving of the maximum punishment under the law.”
Human rights groups and NYSC members across the country welcomed the verdict, describing it as a long-awaited step towards justice for victims of violence. Several NYSC groups had staged protests demanding swift justice during the early days of the case.
Family members of Salome Adaidu broke into tears of relief outside the court premises, thanking the judiciary for ensuring that their daughter’s death would not go unpunished.
Meanwhile, security was beefed up around the courthouse during the sentencing, as the high-profile case had attracted intense public attention across Nasarawa and neighboring states.
