From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
Justice Oyebola Adepele-Ojo of the Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo, yesterday sentenced the owner of Hilton Hotel, Ile-Ife, where the master student of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Timothy Adegoke lodged before his death, Dr. Rahmon Adedoyin, to death by hanging.
Adedoyin and six staff of his hotel, Magdalene Chiefuna, Adeniyi Aderogba,
Oluwole Lawrence, Oyetunde Kazeem,
Adebayo Kunle, and Adedeji Adesola, were arraigned on 3rd March 2022 on 18-count bothering on conspiracy, felony to wit murder, unlawful and indecent interference with the corpse of Adegoke, 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 General given to him.
Justice Ojo thereby found Adedoyin guilty on seven counts bothering including conspiracy to commit murder, murder, unlawful killing, indecent interference with the corpse of the deceased, and fabrication of evidence.
Adedoyin was sentenced to death by hanging while the 3rd defendant, Adeniyi Aderogba (Hotel Manager), and the 5th defendant, Oyetunde Kazeem (Hotel Supervisor) were subsequently convicted on eight counts and sentenced to death by hanging.
The court discharged the 2nd defendant, Magdalene Chiefuna, the 4th defendant, Oluwole Lawrence, and the 6th 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 jeep used to convey the corpse of Adegoke to the dumping ground to the state government while the school fee of the two children of late Adegoke should be paid by the convicts till their graduation.
The court also convicted the 7th defendant Adedeji Adesola but adjourned her sentencing to Wednesday 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.