Late Adegoke and Adedoyin
By Ayo Kehinde
Osun State High Court has sentenced to death by hanging, Dr Ramon Adedoyin owner of Hilton Honours Hotel, Ile- Ife, where Timothy Adegoke, a former Masters student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, was murdered on November, 2021.
The Osun Chief Judge, Adepele Ojo, who delivered 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.
She further said that Adedoyin’s decision not to enter the witness box nailed 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.
Justice Ojo discharged three defendants, Magdalene Chiefuna, Lawrence Oluwole and Adedeji Adesola.
They were discharged from the counts of conspiracy to murder and murder. However, they were found culpable of other counts in the charge.
Adedoyin was, however, found culpable and convicted of counts 1, 2, 3, 7, 9, 15 and 16.
The Court held that the second autopsy report signed by two pathologists from Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital was thwarted as the court held that “it’s a report by persons with vested interest.”
