Gospel singer sentenced to death for killing girlfriend

Timileyin Ajayi, a 32-year-old Nigerian gospel singer, has been sentenced to death by hanging for the murder of his girlfriend, Salome Adaidu, a member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

The judgment was delivered on Thursday, June 26, in a High Court in Lafia, Nasarawa State in Nigeria, by Justice Simon Aboki, who found Ajayi guilty of culpable homicide under Section 221 of the Penal Code of Northern Nigeria.

“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.

Background

Ajayi was arrested in January 2025 after confessing to the killing. He claimed he murdered Adaidu because she allegedly cheated on him. During the investigation, police discovered severed body parts of the deceased in his possession. He was kept in custody at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Nasarawa State Police Command in Lafia.

In an interview with Channels TV, Ajayi showed no remorse for his actions. He said:

“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 have the plan in mind.”

He went on to say he saw text messages on her phone, which convinced him she was seeing other men.

“She was cheating. She hides most of the things from me most times. I got to know from her phone. I saw her chats with other guys on the phone, that was why I decided.”

Despite the brutality of the act, Ajayi insisted he felt no regret.

“I don’t have any regrets because life is reciprocal, that is what I thought… That is why I don’t have any regrets because we were actually compatible.”

Ajayi’s chilling confession and lack of remorse shocked the public and contributed to the court’s final decision. The case has brought attention to issues of domestic violence and mental health in relationships.