The Osun State High Court has sentenced Dr. Ramon Adedoyin, the founder of Hilton Hotel in Ile-Ife, to death by hanging for the murder of Timothy Adegoke, an Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) student.
Alongside him, two hotel staff members, Adeniyi Aderogba and Kazeem Oyetunde, have also been sentenced to death by hanging. Three other staff members were discharged and acquitted, while the sentencing for the seventh defendant will take place the following day.
The court case involved Adedoyin and six of his workers: Magdalene Chiefuna, Adeniyi Aderogba, Oluwole Lawrence, Oyetunde Kazeem, Adebayo Kunle, and Adedeji Adesola. They faced a total of 18 charges, including murder, conspiracy, and an oath of secrecy.
Justice Adepele Ojo, the Chief Judge of the State, delivered the judgment on Tuesday. She dismissed the charges of conspiracy to murder and murder against three defendants, namely Magdalene Chiefuna, Lawrence Oluwole, and Adedeji Adesola. However, they were found guilty of other charges.
Ramon Adedoyin was found guilty and convicted on counts 1, 2, 3, 7, 9, 15, and 16.
The Court rejected the second autopsy report conducted by two pathologists from Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, stating that they were biased due to personal interests.
Justice Ojo determined that Timothy Adegoke had stayed at the Hilton hotel and made payments into the account of the seventh defendant.
“I have concluded that the first defendant, Ramon Adedoyin, is guilty of conspiracy to murder and murder.”
The court determined that Oyetunde Kazeem was directly involved in the crimes based on the evidence presented and found him guilty of the charges.
Regarding the seventh defendant, Adedeji Adesola, the court stated that although there were insufficient grounds to find her guilty of counts 1, 2, and 3, she was involved in the overall act.
