In a significant ruling, the Court of Appeal, Akure division, Ondo State, has upheld the death sentence of Rahmon Adedoyin for his involvement in the tragic murder of Timothy Adegoke, a former Master’s student at Obafemi Awolowo University in Osun State.
Verdict Details
The court confirmed that Adedoyin was properly convicted by the lower court, the High Court in Osogbo. However, the judges squashed the lower court’s decision regarding the forfeiture of Adedoyin’s property to the state government. This decision was made because the convict was already mandated to be responsible for the education of Adegoke’s children.
The Crime
Timothy Adegoke, a chartered accountant, was tragically killed in Adedoyin’s hotel after traveling to Ile-Ife to sit for his MBA examinations. His untimely death raised serious concerns about justice and accountability.
Legal Representation Insight
Following the judgment, Fatima Adesina, who represented the state government on behalf of Femi Falana SAN, shared insights on the court’s decision: “The Court has upheld the conviction by the Trial Court for various offenses, including conspiracy to kill, unlawful killing, and accessory after the fact.”
Adesina emphasized the importance of the ruling while noting that specific aspects of the trial court’s decision were quashed, particularly the requirement for Adedoyin to fund the education of the late Adegoke’s children.
The Trial Court’s Ruling
It could be recalled that the trial court had earlier sentenced Adedoyin and two staff members, Adeniyi Aderogba and Oyetunde Kazeem, to death by hanging over their alleged roles in the death and disposal of Adegoke’s body from the hotel premises.
Dissatisfied with the lower court ruling, the accused sought for the setting aside of the ruling at the appellate court, a judgement of which was entered against him (Adedoyin).
Moving Forward
This verdict highlights the ongoing pursuit of justice in the Adegoke case and serves as a reminder of the legal system’s role in addressing serious crimes.
