Segun Atanda/
The Court of Appeal in Akure has upheld the death sentence handed down to Rahmon Adedoyin, the owner of Hilton Hotel and Resorts in Ile-Ife, for his involvement in the brutal murder of Timothy Adegoke, an MBA student at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU).
The appellate court confirmed that Adedoyin was rightly convicted for his role in the chilling crime that shocked the nation.
The case, which had been on appeal for 16 months, came to a head on October 29, 2024, when the court reserved its judgment, later reaffirming the death sentence imposed by the High Court in Osogbo, Osun State.
This decision marks a significant chapter in a case that has drawn intense national and international attention.
The tragic events began on November 5, 2021, when Timothy Adegoke, a chartered accountant based in Abuja, traveled to Ile-Ife for his MBA exams at OAU’s Distance Learning Centre.
Two days after his arrival, Adegoke’s family and friends grew concerned after losing contact with him. Despite his confirmation of arrival in the city, Adegoke vanished without a trace. His disappearance sparked widespread panic.
Days later, Adegoke’s lifeless body was discovered in a shallow grave near Hilton Hotel and Resorts, Adedoyin’s establishment, where he had been staying.
The discovery sent shockwaves through the nation, and an investigation quickly ensued. Police findings revealed that Adegoke had been murdered by a group of four individuals, with Rahmon Adedoyin identified as a key player in the grisly crime.
Adedoyin, who initially denied involvement in the murder, was later found guilty of conspiring to kill the promising student. The case unfolded as one of the most sensational murder trials in recent Nigerian history, with public outrage mounting over the circumstances of Adegoke’s death.
Adedoyin, once a prominent figure in Nigeria’s business community, was sentenced to death in 2022 by the High Court after a lengthy trial.
Adegoke’s death not only sparked a call for justice but also brought to light the dark underbelly of Nigeria’s hospitality industry, with Hilton Hotel and Resorts now under scrutiny for its role in harboring the perpetrators.
The ruling has been hailed by many as a victory for justice, though the painful memory of Timothy Adegoke’s untimely death continues to linger in the hearts of his family and the wider public.
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