As the trial of the suspected killer of the National Youth Service Corps member, Salome Adaidu, began at the High Court 2 in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital, on Monday, the prosecuting counsel has presented three out of five witnesses to testify against the suspect, Timileyin Ajayi.
The witnesses who allegedly submitted their statements in court as exhibits alleged that the body of the victim was found in the possession of the suspect.
Ajayi was arraigned in January before Justice Simon Aboki of the High Court of Justice in Lafia, Nasarawa State, where he pleaded not guilty to the charge of killing the corps member, Adaidu, who was allegedly found dead at his residence.
The Nigeria Police Force had arraigned Ajayi before the court on a count of culpable homicide for allegedly killing the victim, Adaidu.
The offence is punishable by death under Section 221 of the Penal Code of Northern Nigeria.
The Nasarawa State Government had taken over the case and appeared in court to commence the suspect’s trial.
On Monday, during the court session, the prosecutors applied to amend the suspect’s name to Oluwatimileyin Daniels Ajayi as opposed to the name earlier submitted, Timileyin Ajayi.
The prosecuting counsel presented three out of five witnesses and submitted five statements as exhibits A to E, which were admitted by the court.
The three witnesses revealed to the court the level of involvement of the accused, Ajayi, in the killing of the victim, Adaidu.
They were, however, cross-examined by the defence counsel to the suspect.
On his part, the prosecuting counsel, Raymond Umoru, said, “The witnesses gave vital information as to what transpired. So, we hope that at the end of the day, justice will be done.”
The counsel for the defendant, Joseph Tuku-Bisong, said, “We have just started today and we thank God for the success recorded today. The prosecution was able to call three witnesses, and we played our part by cross-examining the witnesses.”
After hearing all the submissions, the trial judge, Justice Simon Aboki, adjourned the case, scheduling the trial to continue from March 17 to March 20.
PUNCH Metro reports that lawyers who witnessed the court session expressed satisfaction with the court proceedings.
