The owner of Hilton Hotels in Ile-Ife, Osun State, Dr. Ramon Adedoyin, and two of his staff members have lodged an appeal against their murder conviction in the case of the late Timothy Adegoke, a former Masters student of Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife. The appeal was filed before a superior court after an Osun State High Court found them guilty.
In the initial ruling by Justice Adepele Ojo, Adedoyin and the two staff members involved in evacuating the deceased from the hotel, Adeniyi Aderogba and Oyetunde Kazeem, were sentenced to death by hanging. Additionally, the judge ordered that the hotel where the incident took place be forfeited to the state government. She further directed that the education of the victim’s children be funded until they complete their tertiary education using assets from the convicts’ estates.
However, the judge acquitted three hotel staff members, namely Magdalene Chiefuna, Oluwole Lawrence, and Adebayo Kunle. The seventh defendant, Adesola Adedeji, the receptionist on duty when Adegoke arrived at the hotel, received a two-year prison sentence starting from the day of her arrest.
Sources indicate that Dr. Adedoyin, who was sentenced to death, maintains his innocence and claims that he cannot be sentenced to capital punishment.
Mr. Muhydeen Adeoye, one of the lawyers representing Dr. Adedoyin in the case, confirmed that the convicted individuals have appealed the judgment of the Osun State High Court. The appeal was lodged with the Court of Appeal in Akure.
