From Lateef Dada, Osogbo

Justice Oyebola Adepele-Ojo of the Osun State High Court, Osogbo, yesterday, sentenced the owner of Hilton Hotel, Ile-Ife, Dr. Rahmon Adedoyin, to death by hanging over the murder of Timothy Adegoke, a masters student of the Obafemi Awolowo University ( OAU).

Adedoyin and six staff of his hotel, Magdalene Chiefuna, Adeniyi Aderogba, Oluwole Lawrence, Oyetunde Kazeem, Adebayo Kunle, and Adedeji Adesola, were arraigned on March 3, 2022 on 18-count charge bothering on conspiracy, felony to wit murder, unlawful and indecent interference with the body of Adegoke and fabrication of documents, among others.

The court ruled that the prosecution by Femi Falana (SAN) was valid because two senior counsels from the state Ministry of Justice had appeared with him at the inception of the case, to authenticate the power of the attorney given to him.

Justice Ojo, thereby, found Adedoyin guilty on seven counts of conspiracy to commit murder, murder, unlawful killing, indecent interference with the body of the deceased, and fabrication of evidence.

Related News

Adedoyin was sentenced to death by hanging while the third defendant, Adeniyi Aderogba (hotel manager), and the fifth defendant, Oyetunde Kazeem (Supervisor) were subsequently convicted on eight counts and sentenced to death by hanging. The court discharged the second defendant, Magdalene Chiefuna, the fourth defendant, Oluwole Lawrence, and the sixth defendant, Adebayo Kunle.

Justice Ojo declared the son of Adedoyin, who was said to have supervised the dumping of the deceased, Raheem, wanted and directed the police to ensure his arrest through Interpol for prosecution.

The chief judge also ordered the forfeiture of the hotel and the Hilux van used to convey the body of Adegoke to the dumping ground to the state government, while the school fees of the two children of late Adegoke should be paid by the convicts till their graduation.

The court also convicted the seventh defendant, Adedeji Adesola, but adjourned her sentencing to today because of the plea of her counsel, Ita Okon, and the prosecution from the office of Femi Falana (SAN), Fatimoh Adesina, who pleaded that the defendant revealed the secret that exposed the truth of the matter by tendering the original receipt and the doctored one given to her by Adedoyin and his son.

Adedoyin, who raised his hand and was given the microphone, said the court is aware that he did not kill and did not ask anybody to go and kill, saying he handed over the matter to the Almighty God.