OAU MBA student’s death: Adedoyin, 6 others remanded in correctional centre
By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo
Justice Adepele Ojo of an Osogbo High Court on Thursday ordered that Dr. Rahmon Adedoyin, owner of Hilton Hotel, Ile-Ife, be remanded in Ilesa Correctional center over the death of an MBA student of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Timothy Adegoke.
Six other staff of the Hotel, were also remanded for the same offence.
It would be recalled that Adegoke allegedly died at Hilton hotel last year when he came for his Master’s degree examination.
Adedoyin as well as the other accused persons; Adedeji Adesola, Magdalene Chiefuna, Adeniyi Aderogba, Oluwale Lawrence, Oyetunde Kazeem and Adebayo Kunle, had previously been arraigned before a Federal High Court in Abuja on 11 counts charge bordering on conspiracy, unlawful interference with a dead body, altering and intent to destroy evidence and murder.
The lead prosecution counsel , Mr M.O Omosun, informed the court that the defendants committed the offence sometimes between Nov. 5, 2021 and Nov. 7, 2021 within Ile-Ife area, Osun State
Omosun said the defendants with others now at large conspired among themselves to kill Adegoke for unjust reasons.
He stated further that they also altered and cancelled Adegoke’s receipt number 9316, which indicated the payment receipt he made to Hilton Hotel in Ile Ife.
He also said that the deceased body was dumped with his laptop, phones and other belongings at an undisclosed place to cover up after his murder.
According to the prosecutor, the offence committed contravened sections 324, 306 , 315 , 509, 516, 519, 242 , and 106 of the criminal code, cap 38 vol. 11 , laws of Osun State, 2004 .
Omosun prayed the court to order the remand of the defendants in correctional center due to the magnitude of the alleged offence committed.
The defense counsel, Mr K.K Eleja, however prayed the court to grant his clients bail in the most liberal terms.
Eleja drew the attention of the court to count four, six, eight, 10 and 11, which indicated that Adedoyin is not standing trial for a capital offense.
He cited section 157 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act of Osun State, pleading with the court to grant the first defendant, Adedoyin bail on liberal terms .
Eleja said though the prosecution counsel had already filed an 11 paragraph counter affidavits on March 2 , 2022 against his client for bail, he believed Adedoyin would not jumped bail or tempered with the on going trial .
Counsels for the six other defendants, including Mr Rasheed Adegoke (SAN), had aligned themselves to the application for bail in the most liberal terms with supported counter affidavits, and written addresses with oral arguments on points of law.
The presiding judge, who is also the Chief Judge of the state, in her ruling overruled the bail application by the defense counsels and ordered that the defendants be remanded in Ilesa Correctional Centre.
She urged all counsels for a speedy trial of the case within a short stipulated time and adjourned the case till March 4.
Ojo, therefore , said the application for bail of the seventh defendant would be heard March 4 , 2022 while the judge ordered all the defendants to be remanded in Ilesa Correctional Centre.
Meanwhile, security was airtight at the court premises while session session.
A combined team of mobile, conventional, plainclothes policemen and officials of the Department of State Service (DSS), stormed the premises of the court as earlier as 7am before the commencement of proceedings at 9am.
*
