OAU student’s death: Court remands Adedoyin, founder of Oduduwa University, six others, adjourns case

Blessing Akorowosi, Osogbo

The Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo, on Thursday ordered the remand of the founder of Oduduwa University, Ile-Ife, Dr. Rahmon Adedoyin over the death of Timothy Adegoke, a Post Graduate student of Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU.

Adedoyin who is also the owner of Hilton Hotel, Ile-Ife was remanded alongside six members of staff of the hotel.

Recall that the deceased, Timothy Adegoke allegedly died at Hilton hotel last year when he came for his Master’s degree examination.

Adedoyin, as well as other accused persons– Adedeji Adesola, Magdalene Chiefuna, Adeniyi Aderogba, Oluwale Lawrence, Oyetunde Kazeem and Adebayo Kunle, had previously been arraigned before Federal High Court in Abuja on 11 count charge bordering on conspiracy, unlawful interference with a dead body, altering and intent to destroy evidence and murder.

The Defence counsels to the accused persons prayed the court to grant their clients bail in most liberal terms.

The Lead Prosecution Counsel, Mr M.O Omosun, informed the court that the accused persons committed the offence sometimes between November 5, 2021 and November 7, 2021 within Ile-Ife area in Osun State.

Omosun stated the accused persons with others now at large conspired among themselves to kill one Timothy Adegoke for unjust reasons.

He further said that they also altered and cancelled his receipt number 9316, which indicated the payment receipt made by Timothy Adegoke to Hilton Hotel in Ile Ife.

He also said that the deceased body was dumped with his laptop, phones and other belonging 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, 2004.

He prayed the court to order the remand of the accused persons 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 offence.

He cited section 157 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act of Osun State, pleading with the court to grant the first accused person, Adedoyin bail on liberal terms.

Eleja said though the prosecution counsel had already filed a 11 paragraph counter affidavits on March 2 , 2022 against his client for bail, he believed Adedoyin would not jumped bail or tamper with the ongoing trial.

The counsels for the six other defendants including Mr Rasheed Adegoke (SAN), had aligned themselves on 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 and Chief Judge of Osun, Adepele Ojo in her ruling overruled the bail conditions by the defense counsels and ordered that the accused persons be remanded at Ilesa Correctional Centre.

Justice Ojo asked the seventh accused person’s defence counsels to file a formal bail application, noting that the accused person is yet to file for bail.

She said the seventh accused person should file for bail in order for her to rule on all the bail applications together.

Ojo, therefore said the application for bail of the seventh accused person would be heard on March 4, 2022.

She urged all counsels for a speedy trial of the case within a short stipulated time.

The case was adjourned till March 4.

Meanwhile, there was tight security at the court premises during session. State Security operatives arrived the court  around 7am ahead the court sitting by 9am.