The Court of Appeal in Akure, Ondo State, has reserved its judgment in an appeal filed by Chief Ramon Adedoyin, challenging the death sentence handed down by an Osun State High Court.
Adedoyin, the owner of Hilton Hotels in Ile-Ife, was found guilty and sentenced to death in connection with the death of Timothy Adegoke, a postgraduate student of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife.
The incident, which took place on November 5, 2021, has attracted widespread public attention due to the gruesome details surrounding the case.
Adegoke had checked into Hilton Hotels to take an exam in Ile-Ife, but shortly afterward, he went missing.
Days later, he was found dead, with the circumstances surrounding his death leading to accusations that Adedoyin and his hotel staff may have been involved in a cover-up.
The Osun State High Court, presided over by Justice Adepele Ojo, sentenced Adedoyin and two of his employees, Adeniyi Aderogba and Oyetunde Kazeem, to death by hanging.
The court found that Adedoyin’s decision not to testify in his own defense suggested acceptance of the murder charge against him, bolstering the prosecution’s case.
During the appeal hearing on Tuesday, counsel for the respondents, Mr. Femi Falana, urged the court to uphold the lower court’s ruling, arguing that the evidence against Adedoyin was overwhelming.
Falana detailed that after Adegoke’s death, Adedoyin allegedly directed hotel staff to swear to an oath of secrecy.
He also reportedly ordered the transportation of Adegoke’s body to Abuja in an attempt to hide evidence and instructed his staff to cover up the circumstances of the death.
The case has continued to spark national outrage, raising questions about justice, safety, and accountability in Nigeria’s hospitality industry.
Investigators have alleged that Adedoyin and his staff attempted to destroy evidence, including concealing CCTV footage and tampering with the crime scene.
Despite the conviction, Adedoyin’s legal team has maintained his innocence, asserting that he was not at the hotel on the night of Adegoke’s death and insisting that the incident was unrelated to any criminal activity on his part.
The appeal has heightened public anticipation, with Nigerians closely watching for the Court of Appeal’s decision on this high-profile case.
