Nigeria: Hilton Hotel owner, two workers sentenced to death for murder of student

The owner of Hilton Hotel in Ile-Ife, Nigeria, Dr Rahmon Adedoyin has been sentenced to death by hanging, along with two workers of the hotel, for the murder of a student, Timothy Adegoke.

Justice Oyebola Ojo, Osun State Chief Judge sitting at the High Court in Osogbo, said based on the circumstances of the case as established by the prosecution, the three were culpable of conspiracy to commit murder, and the unlawful killing of the postgraduate student of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) student.

The two others also sentenced to death are Adeniyi Aderogba, 37 and Kazeem Oyetunde, 38, both workers of the hotel.

Three others – Magdalene Chiefuna, 24, Lawrence Oluwale, 37, and Adedeji Adesola, 23, were acquitted of the charges and discharged by the court, while sentencing for a seventh defendant was adjourned to Wednesday.

The late Timothy Adegoke

Adegoke, 37, went missing after lodging at the Hilton Hotels and Resorts at Ile-Ife on his arrival from Abuja on November 5, 2021.

He was due to write an examination at the OAU Distance Learning Centre, Moro, Osun State, the next day, November 6 and November 7, 2021.

He however went missing and was found dead, buried in a grave following a police investigation of the hotel owner, Dr Rahman Adedoyin and its workers.

The defendants were slapped with the crime of murder, with counts including conspiracy to commit murder, unlawful killing of Timothy Adegoke, conspiracy to commit a felony, dumping of the body of Adegoke, conspiracy to improperly and indecently interfere with the body of Adegoke, conspiracy to alter receipt, altering and cancelling of receipt and administering of extra-judicial oath in connection with the killing.

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