By Enyichukwu Enemanna
A Nasarawa State High Court sitting the capital, Lafia, North Central Nigeria has sentenced Oluwatimileyin Ajayi, the self-confessed killer of a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member to death by hanging.
Salome Adaidu was hacked to death in Nasarawa State last year by the suspect under controversial circumstances.
Justice Simon Aboki, who handed down the judgment, found Ajayi guilty of killing and dismembering Adaidu’s body.
He had been charged with one count of culpable homicide contrary to Section 221 of the Penal Code of Northern Nigeria and punishable by death.
Following months of prosecution, Justice found Oluwatimileyin guilty of culpable homicide and sentenced him accordingly.
The prosecution had established beyond reasonable doubt, that Oluwatimileyin willfully killed and dismembered Adaidu, the court declared during the ruling on Thursday.
Oluwatimileyin who claims to be a gospel singer was convicted under Section 221 of the Penal Code of Northern Nigeria, which prescribes the death penalty for culpable homicide.
“The evidence before the court clearly shows that the accused intentionally caused the death of the deceased. The law is clear on this, and the punishment is death. Therefore, the accused is hereby sentenced to death by hanging,” Justice Aboki ruled.
It could be recalled that the convict was in January arrested after being caught with the severed head of the victim Adaidu when he was heading to an unknown destination.
Oluwatimileyin, also known as a songwriter, vocalist, and recording and performing artiste, was apprehended near a church in the Orozo, a boundary between Nasarawa State and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Videos that made the rounds on social media suggested that Oluwatimileyin, also known as Timileyin was seen carrying a black nylon bag with flies following him.
The suspect, said to be from Kabba in Kogi State also in North Central Nigeria, was accosted and searched where he was discovered that he was carrying a fresh human head that appeared to be of his girlfriend.
He argued that he and his girlfriend engaged in heated altercations, and she tried to stab him with a knife which resulted in her killing and mutilation.
