Timileyin Ajayi, the man accused of killing Salome Adaidu, has denied the charge in court. He was brought before the High Court of Justice in Lafia on Monday, where Justice Simon Aboki handled the case.

Ajayi is charged with culpable homicide, a crime that could lead to the death penalty, according to Section 221 of the Penal Code in Northern Nigeria.

The case became widely known when Ajayi was found with the severed head of Salome Adaidu, who was serving as a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member. Although Ajayi initially confessed to the crime, he claimed that he killed Adaidu after discovering she was cheating on him.

Ajayi’s not guilty plea raises questions about the trial’s outcome, and the case continues to unfold in court.