The owner of HIlton Royal Hotel at Ile- Ife, Ogun State, Dr Rahmon Adedoyin, and six others have been charged to court by the Nigerian Police Force over the murder, conspiracy, altering receipts of Timothy Adegoke, a Masters of Business Administration student of the Obafemi Awolowo University who lodged at the hotel.
Timothy Adegoke, died at the hotel on November 6, 2021, and the suspects which include Adedoyin and some workers of the hotel identified as Adedeji Adesola, 23; Magdalene Chiefuna, 24; Adeniyi Aderogba, 37; Oluwale Lawrence, 37; Oyetunde Kazeem, 38; Adebayo Kunle, 35, and others still at large were arrested between November 12 and 15, 2021.
According to reports, Adedoyin, the hotel owner is being charged with the offence of unlawful interference with the dead body, while the remaining six accused persons are being charged with offences such as murder, altering receipt, conspiracy and other crimes.
It was gathered in a report filed by the police in the case summary and proof of evidence that Adedoyin was being charged of illegally disposing of the victim’s body,altering and cancelling of his payment receipt and removal of the hotel’s CCTV cameras with the intention of destroying evidence of the case
One of Adedoyin’s lawyers, Mr Abiodun Williams, said the legal team expected this development as it points that the police had concluded their investigations, which also signified the beginning of the legal battle to prove and establish the innocence of those being accused of the crime.
“At least, the charges have now cleared Adedoyin of the grievous allegations of murder and ritual killing peddled against him; thus setting the stage for him and all the suspects to prove their innocence before the court”. Williiams stated
“We would like to restate, most emphatically, that Adedoyin ought not to have been dragged into this case in the first place. We will, therefore, leave the rest to the court to decide according to the proof of evidence placed before it. Hopefully, the media, especially the online blogs and those sponsoring lies and rumours, will stop their unfounded allegations and allow the court to dispense justice to all those involved according to the facts and evidence adduced.” he added.