Timileyin Ajayi formally arraigned, remanded in prison over Salome’s murder
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Timilehin Ajayi was formally arraigned at a Nasarawa High Court on Monday and remanded at a correctional facility over his alleged murder of Salome Adaidu.
Ajayi, whose address was not given, was charged with culpable homicide before Judge Simon Aboki.
State counsel Stanley Ifeanyi told the court that Ajayi killed Salome, 24, who was doing her National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) with NICON Insurance in Abuja.
Ifeanyi said the offence violates Section 221 of the Penal Code Law of Northern Nigeria, and is punishable with death.
The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge
Aboki remanded Ajayi at the Lafia Custodial Centre and adjourned the case until March 17 for a hearing.
The Judge pledged to give the case an accelerated hearing because of its seriousness and sensitive nature.
Initial remand of Ajayi pending formal arraignment
Ajayi was allegedly caught with the freshly severed head of Salome and the court had about two weeks ago remanded him in prison pending his formal arraignment by the police.
Ajayi was apprehended by churchgoers on January 12 for allegedly killing and dismembering Salome for suspected ritual purposes.
The church’s Bible Study Teacher and General Secretary, Caleb Umaru, explained that a member noticed Ajayi acting suspiciously near a river.
The member alerted others when Ajayi threw a bag into the river, which was later retrieved and found to contain the severed head of Salome, who he later claimed was his girlfriend.
The suspect has admitted to committing the murder but said he has no regret for it because Salome allegedly cheated on him which triggered him to kill her.
However, members of Salome’s family claim that she was never in a relationship with Ajayi, who she did not introduce to them, and that he allegedly kidnapped and murdered her, contrary to his claim that she visited him on the day of the incident.
Salome’s mother says “I want justice for my child”
Salome’s mother Ojomachenwu later recounted her last moments with her before she was allegedly murdered.
Salome reportedly visited Ajayi at his residence in Papalana, New Karshi in Karu Council of Nasarawa where he confessed to police he killed her.
“I called her on Saturday and asked where she was. She told me she was washing clothes. I then asked if she was washing the clothes alone. She said yes and added that the firstborn child was in the living room cleaning it, Ojomachenwu told BBC Pidgin.
“She also told me that once she finished, she planned to go to the place where she does her NYSC training. Maybe it was from that training that this incident happened because the bag she took to the training was the same one the police brought, which I saw on Monday.
“Maybe on her way to the place, she entered a ‘one-chance’ (a kind of scam often involving public transport), or someone used medicine (voodoo) on her because she doesn’t have friends like that. I want justice for my child.”
Nasarawa Police Public Relations Officer Ramhan Nansel assured at the time that the law would take its course in the case.
“Investigation is ongoing and upon conclusion, [the suspect] will be arraigned in court for prosecution. I want to assure the family and members of the public that this suspect will not be spared if found wanting,” Nansel said.
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