The Court of Appeal sitting in Akure, Ondo State, has upheld the death sentence handed to Dr. Ramon Adedoyin, the owner of Hilton Honours Hotel, Ile-Ife, over the murder of Timothy Adegoke, an ex-Master’s student of Obafemi Awolowo University. Delivering its judgment on Thursday, the appellate court dismissed Adedoyin’s appeal, affirming his conviction and death sentence by the Osun State High Court.
However, the court quashed orders mandating Adedoyin to provide scholarships for Adegoke’s children and the forfeiture of Hilton Hotel. Adegoke was found dead in November 2021 at the hotel where he had lodged, and investigations revealed his body was dumped in a bush by hotel staff under Adedoyin’s directives.
A police officer involved in the investigation, Afeez Olaniyan, disclosed during the trial how two hotel staff, under Adedoyin’s son’s supervision, evacuated Adegoke’s corpse wrapped in a duvet and dumped it in a bush. A consultant pathologist confirmed that Adegoke’s death resulted from severe traumatic injury causing haemorrhage.
Adegoke’s tragic death in 2021 sparked national outrage and mourning, with his burial drawing emotional scenes from family and friends. His widow, Bolatito, was inconsolable at the graveside, highlighting the devastating impact of his loss on loved ones and the community.
