Nasarawa High Court begins hearing in alleged corps member’s murder

By Sunday John

 The Nasarawa State High Court 2, sitting in Lafia, on Monday, began hearing in the case of the alleged murder of the 24-year-old National Youth Service Corps member, Salome Adaidu.

The defendant, Oluwatimilehin Ajayi, was accused of killing and dismembering the body of Adaidu, who was said to be his girl friend.

Ajayi, who was charged with culpable homicide, pleaded not guilty.

The Prosecution Counsel, Raymond Umaru, called three witnesses, when the case came up for hearing.

Umaru, thereafter, presented the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Karshi Police Station, the Police Officer handling the matter at the station, and an uncle to the deceased, Mr Samson Adaidu, as witnesses.

Addressing the court, he applied to amend the name of the defendant from Timilehin Ajayi to Oluwatimilehin Ajayi “in the interest of justice”, which was granted.

However, during the cross-examination, the Counsel for the defendant, Joseph Tukur-Sisong, sought to know if forensic investigation was carried out to ascertain that the dismembered body was that of the corp member.

Responding, Samson told the court that he identified the head of the deceased, when it was brought out from the polythene bag and shown to him.

Meanwhile, the State Government, through the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Hauwa Samuel-Jugbo, applied and got the court’s approval to take over the prosecution of the case from the police.

Justice Simon Aboki later ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Lafia Correctnal Centre until the next adjourned date of Tuesday, March 18, for the continuation of the hearing. (NAN).