UPDATED: Court hears murder case of NYSC member in Lafia

From Abel Leonard, Lafia

A High Court in Lafia has begun hearing the case against 32-year-old singer Oluwatimilehin Daniel Ajayi, accused of brutally murdering and dismembering National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member Salome Adaidu.

Presiding over the case, Justice Simon Aboki granted a motion by the prosecution to amend the defendant’s name to his full identity. The Nasarawa State Government, through Attorney General Hauwa Samuel Jugbo, has officially taken over the prosecution from the police.

During Monday’s proceedings, three witnesses testified, including the Divisional Police Officer of Karshi Police Station and the deceased’s uncle, Mr. Adaidu Samson.

Under cross-examination, defence counsel Joseph Tuku Bisong questioned whether forensic investigations had been conducted to confirm the victim’s identity. In response, Mr. Samson stated that he immediately recognised his niece’s severed head when it was retrieved from a polythene bag.

He added that the last finger and the toes of the deceased bore a family trademark, which he also identified and confirmed as belonging to his niece’s body.

TheSun.ng reports that Justice Aboki adjourned the case to Tuesday for further hearing. Ajayi, popularly known as Timilehin Ajayi, was arrested on February 12 in connection with the crime.