The High Court in Lafia, Nasarawa State, has sentenced Oluwatimileyin Ajayi to death by hanging for killing a National Youth Service Corps member, Salome Adaidu.
Justice Simon Aboki in a judgement on Thursday found Ajayi guilty of culpable homicide, having beheaded and dismembered the victim.
The judge said that the prosecuting counsel proved their case beyond a reasonable doubt that the convict killed the victim at his residence.
According to him, he was not impressed by the defendant claim that he became unconscious after having a good time with his girlfriend, and was unconscious when he wrote his confessional statement, does not hold water.
Aboki noted that Ajayi was convicted under Section 221 of the Penal Code of Northern Nigeria, which prescribes the death penalty for persons guilty of such an offence.
“The law is clear on this, and the punishment is death. Therefore, the accused is hereby sentenced to death by hanging,” the judge held.
Ajayi was nabbed by the Police after he was caught by churchgoers in Orozo, a border community between Abuja and Nasarawa, carrying a polybag containing the severed head of the victim.
Investigations later revealed that the remaining body parts inside his apartment in New Karshi, Karu Local Government Area of the state.
Salome was reportedly killed during a visit to Ajayi, with whom she was romantically involved.
In a viral post-arrest interview, Ajayi confessed to the crime, saying the act was not premeditated but carried out in a fit of jealousy.
“I killed her because we don’t have each other all the time. It’s not something I planned. It happened on that day, and it happened. Not that I had the plan in mind, she was cheating.
“She hides most of the things from me most time. I got to know from her phone. I saw her chats with other guys on the phone, that was why I decided,” he had claimed.
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