Osun State High Court has found popular hotel owner, Dr. Abdulrahman Adedoyin guilty and sentenced him to death by hanging in the murder case of Timothy Adegoke, a former master’s degree student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
Adegoke was killed between 5th and 7th November 2021, at Hilton Honours Hotel, Ile-Ife.
Two of Adedoyin’s staff – Adeniyi Aderogba and Kazeem Oyetunde – were also sentenced to death.
The state Chief Judge, Justice Adepele Ojo held that the circumstantial evidence available to the court, pointed to Adegoke’s killing 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 available to the court 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.
The judge however discharged and acquitted three of the hotel staff, while the seventh defendant is to hear her sentencing on Wednesday following pleas by both the prosecution and defendant counsels.
