….Frees 3 defendants

Chief Judge of Osun State, Justice Oyebola Ojo, yesterday, sentenced Dr. Rahman Adedoyin, owner of Hilton Hotel in Ile-Ife, to death by hanging, over the murder of Timothy Adegoke, a postgraduate student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

Adedoyin, alongside six of his hotel workers — Magdalene Chiefuna, Adeniyi Aderogba, Oluwole Lawrence, Oyetunde Kazeem, Adebayo Kunle and Adedeji Adesola — was docked on 18-count, including conspiracy to commit murder, unlawful killing of Timothy Adegoke.

Other counts included an attempt to commit a felony, administering an extra judicial oath, tampering with evidence, manufacturing evidence, indecent tempering with the deceased body and interference with the deceased body among others.

The court, however, discharged and acquitted three defendants, Magdalene, Chiefuna (2nd defendant), Oluwole Lawrence, (4th defendant) and Adebayo Kunle) 6th defendant), on the charges preferred against them.

Justice Ojo, in her judgement, 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, tampering with evidence and manufacturing of evidence.

She also convicted the 3rd and fifth defendants, Adeniyi Aderogba and Oyetunde Kazeem, on counts, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 8.

According to her, there was no direct evidence linking the convicts to the killing of Adegoke but added that the circumstantial evidence against them is strong and compelling against them.

She sentenced Adedoyin to 10 years jail term on counts 1 (conspiracy to commit murder), and death by hanging on counts 2 and 3, (murder and unlawful killing of Timothy Adegoke).

Adedoyin 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.

Similarly, Aderogba and Kazeem were sentenced to 10 years jail term on count 1, and death by hanging on counts 2 and 3. 

While Aderogba was committed to life imprisonment on count 5, with two and eight years jail terms on count 7 and 8, Kazeem was committed to five years jail term on count five and two years each for counts 7 and eight.

Meanwhile, the court adjourned sentencing on the 7th defendant, Adedeji Adesola, who was convicted on count 15 (manufacturing of evidence), till tomorrow Wednesday, May 31, 2023.

The decision was on the ground of an allocution statement by both her counsel and the prosecution that her role in unearthing the mystery behind the case is pertinent and justice should be tendered with mercy in her case.

She, however, declared Rahman Adedoyin wanted and ordered Interpol to commence a manhunt for the accused to arrest him in any part of the world he may be hiding.

The judge further ordered that the vehicle that was used to commit the crime and the hotel, where the said crime was committed be forfeited to the state government, adding that the children of the deceased should be placed on scholarship on the bill of Adedoyin, Aderogba and Kazeem till they register for their National Youths Service Corps, NYSC scheme.

The court had earlier resolved the issue of fiat to prosecute the matter in favour of Prosecuting Counsel, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, after the counsel to the third, fifth and sixth defendants that Falana did not have the fiat of the Attorney-General of Osun State to prosecute the matter; hence, the proceedings should be discountenanced.

It will be recalled that Adegoke was declared missing on November 7, 2021, by the police in Osun State after he did not report for his postgraduate examination at the OAU in Ile-Ile, on November 6, 2021.

He was reported to have lodged at the Hilton Hotel Ile-Ife, owned by Dr Rahman Adedoyin and his body was later found in a shallow grave along the Ede Road, Ile-Ife after the investigating team was taken to where it was dumped by Messrs Aderogba and Kazeem.

They alleged that it was dumped on the instruction of the Managing Director of the Hotel, Raheem Adedoyin, son of the owner.

Judge of Osun State, Justice Oyebola Ojo, yesterday, sentenced Dr. Rahman Adedoyin, owner of Hilton Hotel in Ile-Ife, to death by hanging, over the murder of Timothy Adegoke, a postgraduate student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

Adedoyin, alongside six of his hotel workers — Magdalene Chiefuna, Adeniyi Aderogba, Oluwole Lawrence, Oyetunde Kazeem, Adebayo Kunle and Adedeji Adesola — was docked on 18-count, including conspiracy to commit murder, unlawful killing of Timothy Adegoke.

Other counts included an attempt to commit a felony, administering an extra judicial oath, tampering with evidence, manufacturing evidence, indecent tempering with the deceased body and interference with the deceased body among others.

The court, however, discharged and acquitted three defendants, Magdalene, Chiefuna (2nd defendant), Oluwole Lawrence, (4th defendant) and Adebayo Kunle) 6th defendant), on the charges preferred against them.

Justice Ojo, in her judgement, 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, tampering with evidence and manufacturing of evidence.

She also convicted the 3rd and fifth defendants, Adeniyi Aderogba and Oyetunde Kazeem, on counts, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 and 8.

According to her, there was no direct evidence linking the convicts to the killing of Adegoke but added that the circumstantial evidence against them is strong and compelling against them.

She sentenced Adedoyin to 10 years jail term on counts 1 (conspiracy to commit murder), and death by hanging on counts 2 and 3, (murder and unlawful killing of Timothy Adegoke).

Adedoyin 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.

Similarly, Aderogba and Kazeem were sentenced to 10 years jail term on count 1, and death by hanging on counts 2 and 3. 

While Aderogba was committed to life imprisonment on count 5, with two and eight years jail terms on count 7 and 8, Kazeem was committed to five years jail term on count five and two years each for counts 7 and eight.

Meanwhile, the court adjourned sentencing on the 7th defendant, Adedeji Adesola, who was convicted on count 15 (manufacturing of evidence), till tomorrow Wednesday, May 31, 2023.

The decision was on the ground of an allocution statement by both her counsel and the prosecution that her role in unearthing the mystery behind the case is pertinent and justice should be tendered with mercy in her case.

She, however, declared Rahman Adedoyin wanted and ordered Interpol to commence a manhunt for the accused to arrest him in any part of the world he may be hiding.

The judge further ordered that the vehicle that was used to commit the crime and the hotel, where the said crime was committed be forfeited to the state government, adding that the children of the deceased should be placed on scholarship on the bill of Adedoyin, Aderogba and Kazeem till they register for their National Youths Service Corps, NYSC scheme.

The court had earlier resolved the issue of fiat to prosecute the matter in favour of Prosecuting Counsel, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, after the counsel to the third, fifth and sixth defendants that Falana did not have the fiat of the Attorney-General of Osun State to prosecute the matter; hence, the proceedings should be discountenanced.

It will be recalled that Adegoke was declared missing on November 7, 2021, by the police in Osun State after he did not report for his postgraduate examination at the OAU in Ile-Ile, on November 6, 2021.

He was reported to have lodged at the Hilton Hotel Ile-Ife, owned by Dr Rahman Adedoyin and his body was later found in a shallow grave along the Ede Road, Ile-Ife after the investigating team was taken to where it was dumped by Messrs Aderogba and Kazeem.

They alleged that it was dumped on the instruction of the Managing Director of the Hotel, Raheem Adedoyin, son of the owner.

·       Appeals to Tinubu to release Nnamdi Kanu

 The governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, has declared an end to sit-at-home in the state effective from Monday, June 5, 2023, saying such orders were restricting creativity, entrepreneurship, and productivity in the state.

He, however, expressed government’s readiness, “to engage in dialogue with people, who have genuine grievances towards bringing lasting peace and security to Enugu State”.

Mbah, who stated this in a statement yesterday, also called on President Bola Tinubu to release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to quicken the much-needed healing process in Nigeria.

Mbah, made the declaration while listing out the decisions reached at the end of his first security council meeting with the heads of all the security agencies at the Government House, Enugu, yesterday.

At the meeting, which also had the Deputy Governor, Ifeanyi Ossai in attendance, the governor reminded the people of Enugu that he had hit the ground running on the day of his inauguration by signing three Executive Orders for the good governance of the state, including Executive Order 002 for the removal of “Unauthorised Street Barriers Across the State Within 100 Days.”

“There is no time to waste. The clock has started ticking on the mandate you gave me and deliverables I promised,” he reiterated.

“A time comes in the lives of a people when they must decide whether they genuinely want to move forward or remain stuck with the conditions of their underdevelopment.

“The creativity and sense of industry of Ndi Igbo are remarkable. Our DNA is wired with commercial and entrepreneurial prowess.

 “If this is what we are known by, then it becomes inconsistent with reality that the spirit of entrepreneurship, commerce and creativity are killed every Monday in our land. Our restless spirit of industry abhors laxity and indolence.

“The idea behind sitting at home on Monday, the first working and business day of the week, is abominable and antithetical to greatness and the spirit of industry we profess to have inherited from our forebears. This cannot be us. Tufiakwa (God forbid). It does colossal damage to us,” he further added.

 Mbah reminded the people of the direct connection between his lofty promises he made to them and the vibrancy of commerce in the state.

“For us to transit from a public service economy to a private sector-driven one, we must free our markets from the shackles of restriction to commerce.

“If indeed we aspire and anticipate an influx of private sector practitioners and investors in Enugu State, we must know that this will not happen where the perception of us is that of unproductive people.

“Therefore, those that strike on Mondays, putting restrictions in the way of our Igbo spirit of creativity, cannot be our true representatives. In fact, they kill our spirit.

“We know that our land is a fertile ground for commerce. However, businesses, entrepreneurship and commerce require a vibrant workforce and big markets where they can flourish and make money.

“To this end, therefore, from Monday, June 5, 2023, there will be no observance of any sit-at-home in all nooks and crannies of Enugu State.

“Government will enforce this with all the powers at its disposal. My charge to all of you – market men and women, the corporate world, industries, schools, civil servants, and all strata of workers in Enugu State is for us to take back our sense of industry, pride of place and re-enact our glorious past.

“By heeding this call, you would have set us on the path of actualising our mandate,” he stated.                 

Mbah, however, said the release of Kanu was important to the healing of the country.

“I call on our newly sworn in president, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to consciously work towards the release of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. We believe that his release will expedite the healing process Nigeria needs at this time.

“It will also be a pointer to his administration’s extension of brotherly hands of fellowship to Ndigbo,” he concluded.

Wants focus on youth development

The Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare Il, has congratulated President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Shettima Kashim on their successful inauguration.

In two separate letters to the topmost Nigerian leaders, the revered monarch prayed for the overall wellbeing of the duo, describing Tinubu’s ascension as fulfilment of destiny.

“On behalf of the Royal Court of Benin, Benin Royal family and the good people of Edo State, I congratulate Your Excellency on your successful swearing-in ceremony as the 16th President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“Your swearing in as the 16th president of this great country was as a result of fulfilment of destiny, the people’s will and wish of God Almighty who made it possible to assume the mantle of leadership,” the traditional ruler said in the letter to the president.

He noted that from Tinubu’s antecedents, he had no doubt that the president will excel in the position and fulfill his mandate to Nigerians, pleading with him, however, to give more opportunity to youth development in the country.

“Once again, I heartily congratulate Your Excellency on your inauguration and pray to God Almighty and our Ancestors to grant you the wherewithal to pilot the affairs of our great country, Nigeria,” he added.

To Shettima, the monarch stated that his choice as the number two citizen of the country, Nigeria, was a testament to his loyalty, commitment, trust and the will of God.

With the beginning of a new dispensation for a better Nigeria, the Oba said he was very optimistic that Shettima will join hands with Tinubu, to “bring forth the Nigeria of our dream.”

“Once again, I heartily congratulate Your Excellency on your inauguration and pray to God Almighty and our Ancestors to grant you the wherewithal as the Vice-President of our great country, Nigeria,” he added.

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