Hotelier Ramon Adedoyin and six of his staff have been re-arraigned on 18 counts bordering on conspiracy and murder of a postgraduate student of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Timothy Adegoke.
They were initially facing 11 counts of conspiracy, murder and interference with corpse among others.
On Monday, Chief Judge Adepele Ojo of Osun State High Court okayed the prosecutor Femi Falana’s application seeking to amend their charges.
In her ruling, Justice Ojo dismissed claims by the defence counsel that the amendment was brought in bad faith and that the prosecutor was bias against their clients, saying since judgement had not been given, the prosecutor could amend the charges.
Having struck out the objection, the newly amended 18 counts were read to the seven defendants and they all pleaded not guilty.
The amended count partly read, “That you, Dr. Ramon Adedoyin, Magdalene Chiefuna, Adeniyi Aderogba, Oluwole Lawrence, Oyetunde Kazeem, Adebayo Kunle, Adedeji Adesola and others now at large, on or between the November 5, 2021 and the seventh day of November 2021, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did conspire amongst yourselves to unlawfully kill one Timothy Adegoke and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 324 of the criminal code Vol II Cap 34 laws of Osun State 2002.
“That you Dr. Ramon Adedoyin, Adeniyi Aderogba, Magdalene Chiefuna, Oyetunde Kazeem, Adedeji Adesola and others now at large, on or between November 5, 2021 and seventh day of November 2021, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did unlawfully killed one Timothy Adegoke and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 306 of the criminal code Vol II Cap 34, laws of Osun State 2002.
“That you Dr. Ramon Adedoyin, Adeniyi Aderogba, Magdalene Chiefuna, Oluwole Lawrence, Oyetunde Kazeem, Adebayo Kunle, Adedeji Adesola and others now at large on or between November 5, 2021 and seventh day of November 2021, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did attempt to commit felony and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under 509 of the criminal code Vol II Cap 34 laws of Osun State 2002.”
Justice Ojo then adjourned the matter to Thursday, December 2, 2022 for calling and recalling of witnesses.
