Crime

Adegoke’s Death: Hotel Receptionist Gets Two-Year Jail Term

By Web News 1080

The receptionist on duty at Hilton Hotel, Ile-Ife, Osun State, on the day an ex Masters student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Timothy Adegoke, arrived at the facility, Adedeji Adesola, has been sentenced to two years imprisonment.

Adesola’s sentence was pronounced at the sitting of the court on Wednesday by Osun State Chief Judge, Adepele Ojo.

The judge had pronounced her guilty of conspiracy to fabricate evidence and conceal the fact that the deceased lodged at the facility before he died during the court sitting on Tuesday.

But due to pleading for leniency of the court by her counsel, Okon Ita, and the prosecution, Fatimo Adesina, the judge delayed her sentencing till Wednesday.

The hotel owner, Dr. Ramon Adedoyin, and two of his staff, Adeniyi Aderogba and Oyetunde Kazeem had been earlier sentenced to death by hanging.

The court found them culpable in the death of Adegoke, who arrived at the hotel on November 5, 2021, but was later found buried in a shallow grave along Ife-Ede, by police detectives, days after he has declared missing.

Both Adesina and Adesola’s counsel had urged the court to consider the age of the defendant and the circumstances under which she acted and treat her case with leniency.

Justice Ojo in her judgment, said she took notice of the plead for leniency for the defendant and the provision of Section 411 of the Constitution.

She said, “I have considered the passionate plea of the 7th defendant and the submission of the prosecution on the need to temper justice with mercy. I have observed and considered the sober disposition of the 7th defendant in court throughout the trial.

“I am equally mindful of the circumstances surrounding the case of the 7th defendant. I am not unmindful of the provisions of the Section 411 2(b) of the law. I hereby sentence you Adedeji Adesola to 2 years imprisonment starting from the first day of your arrest.”

Culled / Titilayo Kupoliyi

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Crime

Adegoke’s Murder: Absence of Rahman Adedoyin Stalls Trial

By Web News 1187 Post a comment

The absence of Dr Rahman Adedoyin, owner of Hilton Hotel, Ile-Ife in the murder case of Timothy Adegoke, a Master’s student of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) has forced the Chief Judge of Osun state, Justice Oyebola Adepele-Ojo to threaten reassignment of the case or grant the accused bail.

This is just as she adjourned the case till November 7 and 8, 2022.

Rahman and six of his hotel workers, Magdalene Chiefuna, Adeniyi Aderogba, Oluwale Lawrence, Oyetunde Kazeem, Adebayo Kunle and Adesola Adedeji were dragged before the court over the alleged murder of Adegoke.

One of the defendants, Dr. Rahman Adedoyin was absent at resumed sitting today, October 25, 2022 with the reason that he is indisposed.

Prosecuting Counsel, Fatimah Adesina, had informed the court that Adedoyin was not in the court.

“Attendance of the suspects is sacrosanct to the case”, she said.
“It is painful that despite the Court’s magnanimity the case is still like this.”

The Judge who looked frustrated over the prolonged case said she was ready to deliver her 74-page ruling today but she could not because of the absence of the defendant.

The Judge said that she may be compelled to transfer the case to another Judge or grant the suspects bail if the trend continues.

“I may have to transfer the case to another Judge. Despite my stating the case would not last no longer six months when the case resumed here. The first defendant has to be here.

At a time, I had to travel from the USA for this case, only for it to be adjourned.”

The Judge went further that she was ready to deliver judgement after the next two sittings and that she would not accept or entertain any excuse from both parties again.

Rahman Adedoyin was charged along with six of his staff at the Hilton Hotels, Ile-Ife, Osun State for the alleged murder of Timothy Adegoke, an MBA-Executive student of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) in November 2021.

Adenitan Akinola

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Crime

Slained OAU Student: Court Adjourns Trial

By Web News 747

Human rights lawyer, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, and the government of Osun state have taken over the prosecution of a murder case involving the owner of Hilton hotel and resort, Ile-Ife, Dr. Rahmon Adedoyin and six staff of the hotel.

The case had been adjourned to Monday, April 25 to enable the defendants open their defense.

At the resume hearing in Osogbo, Mr Femi Falana announced appearance and told the court that he had secured the permission of the Attorney General of the state to take over the prosecution from the police.

But, counsel to the 2nd, 4th and 5th defendants, Abdur-Rasheed Muritala SAN, insisted that Attorney General must take over the matter from the police who were prosecuting the matter from inception before he could transfer the matter to any other person.

The counsel also said the Administrator-General and Public Trustee in the state Ministry of Justice, Mr Abiodun Badiora, could not take over the matter.

After some argument, Mr Falana re-announced his appearance with Mr Badiora and a Chief State Counsel, Mr Moses Faremi as prosecutor for the case.

Counsel to the first defendant, Adedoyin, Mr Kunle Eleja SAN, told the court that his client had no witness to call in his defence, since he had made a no case Submission.

But, Muritala SAN said he could not prepare his witness because one of his clients slumped in court and would need to take care of her health.

The counsel who also stood for Rowland Otaru SAN to represent the 3rd and 5th defendants urged the court to adjourn the matter.

The presiding judge, Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo, thereby adjourned the case to May 25 for further hearing.

Earlier, there was confusion during the sitting in as the second defendant slumped moments after she was called into the dock.

It took the intervention of the court clerk, warders and some observers in the court to recuscitate her and averted what seemed like an unfolding tragedy.

Chief Rahaman Adedoyin, Magdalene Chiefuna (24), Adeniyi Aderogba (37), Oluwale Lawrence (37), Oyetunde Kazeem (38), Adebayo Kunle (35) and Adedeji Adesola (23), were arraigned on March 3 on 11 count charges bothering on conspiracy to commit murder, unlawful killing of Timothy Adegoke, conspiracy to commit a felony, dumping of the body of Adegoke, conspiracy to improperly and indecently interfere with the body of Adegoke, conspiracy to alter receipt, altering and cancelling of receipt and administering of extra-judicial oath in connection with the killings.

Adenitan Akinola

Crime

OAU Student Death: Falana Takes over Prosecution

By Web News 847

The Osun State Government has granted the chamber of Chief Femi Falana, SAN, the permission to prosecute all the seven defendants arraigned in connection with the death of Timothy Adegoke, a Master’s student of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, whose death occurred at Hilton Hotel in Ile-Ife.

The hotel owner, Dr. Ramon Adedoyin, and six staff of the facility namely; Adedeji Adesola, Magdalene Chiefuna, Adeniyi Aderogba, Oluwale Lawrence, Oyetunde Kazeem, and Adebayo Kunle, had been arraigned on 11 counts bordering on conspiracy, murder, altering of receipt and administration of extrajudicial oath.

A statement signed by the Osun State Attorney-General & Commissioner of Justice, Oluwafemi Akande, titled, ‘Re: Justice for Timothy, Mr. Governor over to you : OSUN STATE GOVERNMENT POSITION ON STATE OF PROSECUTION IN HOS/ 5C /2022 THE STATE VS. DR. RAHMON ADEDOYIN & ORS,’ which the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ismail Omipidan, posted on his Facebook page, disclosed that Falana, upon request by him and the family of the deceased, had been given permission to prosecute the matter.

The statement further explained that on April 1, 2022, Femi Falana, SAN, applied to the Office of the Osun State Attorney General for fiat to take over the prosecution of the case.

It added that, thereafter, the deceased’s family wrote a separate letter to the Attorney General requesting that Falana’s Chambers be allowed to prosecute the matter.

It further read in parts, “The alleged case of murder was first investigated by Osun State Police Command but was later taken over by the IGP Office in Abuja.

“After the investigation, the Police filed a criminal charge against the suspects in Abuja. The case was later moved to Osogbo by the Nigeria Police.

“While the Police Prosecutors were prosecuting the case, the deceased family’s Counsel, Falana, and Falana & Co watched brief for the victim and witnessed the proceedings.

“On 1st April 2022, Femi Falana, SAN, applied to the Office of the Hon. Attorney General for fiat to take over the prosecution of the case. Thereafter, the deceased’s family wrote a letter to the Attorney General requesting for the Chambers of Femi FALANA SAN to be allowed to prosecute the matter.

“The learned silk’s letter and that of the family were immediately processed and the fiat requested for has since been granted. The Office of Chief Femi FALANA SAN had already collected the letter conveying the fiat of the Attorney General to the learned silk.

“The position as of today, in law, is that the office of Chief Femi FALANA SAN is in full charge of the prosecution of the case.”

Meanwhile, Justice Adepele Ojo of Osun State High Court 1, Osogbo, had adjourned further hearing on the matter till April 25, after a no-case submission the defence counsel entered on behalf of their clients, failed.

Punch / Titilayo Kupoliyi

Judiciary

OAU Student’s Death: Adedoyin, Six Others Have Case To Answer – Court

By Web News 489

An Osun State High Court, Osogbo presided over by the Chief Justice of Osun, Justice Oyebola Ojo has ruled that the owner of Hilton Hotel Ile Ife, Dr. Rahmon Adedoyin, and six staff of the Hotel  have case to answer over the death of a Master degree’s student of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Timothy Adegoke. 

In a ruling on the No Case Submission made  by Counsels to the defendants, Justice Ojo said a prima facie case had been established against all the defendants.

She said, “Evidence before the court states that Timothy Lodged in the hotel owned by Adedoyin. Adesola who is the 7th defendant, the receptionist received the lodger.”

The court also held that wife of the deceased spoke to him while in the facility but he could not be reached afterward by the wife.

The judge consequently directed the defendants to enter their defence.

Counsel to the defendants, Mr Kehinde Eleja, SAN said in view of the ruling, his clients would enter their defense but asked for time to prepare for the necessary processes.

The case was adjourned till the 25th of April, 2022 for opening of defense. 

It would be recalled that the defendants’ counsel led by Yusuf Alli, SAN had told the court at the last sitting that the defendants had no case to answer because the prosecution failed to establish any case against them, while the prosecutor, M O Omosun opposed the claim. 

Adenitan Akinola

Judiciary

Wife of Slain OAU Master’s Student Breaks Down in Court

By Web News 1189

The wife of Late Timothy Adegoke, the Master’s student of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Bolatito Adegoke today burst into tears while giving evidence in the case to unravel the killers of her husband who allegedly died in Hilton Hotel Ile-Ife owned by Dr Adedoyin.

She was led in evidence by the prosecutor Mr Ochogwe before the Chief Justice of Osun State, Justice Adepele Ojo.

In her evidence in Chief, she told the court that she was a full housewife and lived with her late husband in Abuja. 

She said, “On 5 November 2021, my husband left home for his final exam at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. My husband doesn’t joke with his family, when he was going he arrived the Airport, he called me that he was at the Abuja airport. 

“He had a meeting with tax officers in Ibadan. He was carrying a leather box which he said he would not want to go to Ile-Ife with, I called a friend named Iyabo Ogeji at Akure to collect the leather box from him. He called me that my friend has collected the leather box from him and my friend also called to confirm.

“When he arrive Ife, at Hilton Hotel he called me again. At about 8:00 PM, I called him to report one of our children to him, he told me that I should not worry that he want to wake up by 12:00 AM to read. He said we will talk later. 

“My husband use to call me before he go for the exam but on Saturday 6th November 2021, I did not see his call. I called him more than three times, I was worried and I told my children and started weeping because the issue of kidnapping is rampant in Nigeria. Since that time I continue calling his phone till around 4 pm. When he did not respond to the calls I informed one of our church Shepard in Abuja, he consoled me that I should be patient but I told him that such a thing has never happened since our marriage. 

“I informed his office about the situation. On Sunday 8th November 2021 around 5 PM, I called one of my husband’s sisters in Osogbo, I told her to help me check my husband at the exam hall, I also called one of his friends chartered accountant and he called his friend at Ile-Ife to check hotel and exam hall. I told them that he lodge at Hilton Hotel. 

“When they check Hilton, they said nobody bears that name that lodge in the hotel. I checked that document of my husband in Abuja and I saw the previous receipt of the Hilton Hotel, I snap and send it to my people who are in Ife. The police used the receipt to conduct their investigation. I later reported at the police station where I wrote a statement and signed it.”

In the course of the narration, she further broke down in tears, crying profusely that she wanted true justice for her late husband.

However, under cross-examination by the defendant’s counsel, Mr K K Eleja (SAN) she refused to answer the questions put to her.

The presiding judge, Justice Ojo cautioned her and stood down the hearing for 10 minutes so that the prosecutor could attend to her. 

Akinola Adenitan