An Osun State High Court on Tuesday sentenced hotelier Ramon Adedoyin, manager of his hotel, Adeniyi Aderogba; and supervisor, Oyetunde Kazeem, to death by hanging over the death of a postgraduate student of Obafemi Awolowo University, Timothy Adegoke.
Adedoyin and six of his workers, Magdalene Chiefuna, Aderogba, Oluwole Lawrence, Oyetunde, Adebayo Kunle and Adedeji Adesola, were arraigned on 18 counts bordering on conspiracy, murder, felony, indecent interference of the corpse, alteration, cancellation of receipt and oath-taking to prevent justice.
Delivering judgment, Osun Chief Judge Justice Oyebola Ojo discharged and acquitted three of the staff – Chiefuna, Oluwole and Adebayo.
However, Justice Ojo convicted Adedoyin on charges 1, 2, 3, 7, 9, 15 and 16 which border on conspiracy to commit murder, murder, unlawful killing, conspiracy to administer extra judicial oath, indecent tempering with the deceased body, tempering with evidence and manufacturing of evidence.
She also convicted Aderogba and Oyetunde on counts, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 8.
Justice Ojo noted that there was no direct evidence linking the convicts to the killing of Adegoke but circumstantial evidence are compelling and are convicted accordingly.
She sentenced Adedoyin to 10 years jail term on count 1 (conspiracy to commit murder), death by hanging on counts 2 and 3, (murder and unlawful killing of Adegoke). He was also sentenced to three years jail term on count 7, two years jail term on count 9 and five years each on counts 15 and 16.
Aderogba and Oyetunde were sentenced to 10 years jail term on count 1, and death by hanging on counts 2 and 3.
The court pended the sentencing of Adesola (receptionist) till Wednesday after her counsel and prosecution counsel pleaded with the judge that she should be lenient with her sentencing because Adesola played a pivotal role in unravelling the case.
She declared Rahman Adedoyin, son of the hotel owner, wanted and ordered INTERPOL to commence a manhunt for the accused with a view to arresting him in any part of the world.
