Justice for Timothy Adegoke: Ramon Adedoyin to die by hanging

By Bukola Hameed

Osun State High Court has found the popular hotel owner, Dr Ramon Adedoyin guilty in the murder case of Timothy Adegoke, a former Masters student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, whose death occurred between November 5 and 7, 2021 at Hilton Honours Hotel, Ile-Ife.

The Osun Chief Judge, Adepele Ojo, while delivering her judgement on the case, held that the circumstantial evidence available to the court, pointed to the killing of Adegoke while being a guest at the hotel owned by Adedoyin.

According to her, Adedoyin’s decision not to enter the witness box did not help him, as the circumstantial evidence had shifted the burden of proof on him.

Justice Ojo also said Adedoyin’s decision not to enter the witness box meant he agreed to the murder charge pressed against him by the prosecution, dismissing the alibi pleaded on his behalf by his counsel, who said the hotel owner was in Abuja for many days around the time the death of the late Adegoke occurred.

Adedoyin was charged along with other six of his workers; Magdalene Chiefuna, Adeniyi Aderogba, Oluwole Lawrence, Oyetunde Kazeem, Adebayo Kunle and Adedeji Adesola as first to seventh defendants and were docked on an 18-count charge.

Justice Ojo acquitted Chiefuna, Oluwole and Adesola of the counts of conspiracy to murder and murder but found them culpable of other counts.

Adedoyin was, however, convicted of counts 1, 2, 3, 7, 9, 15 and 16.