The court of appeal in Akure, Ondo state, has upheld the death sentence of Rahman Adedoyin, the owner of Hilton Hotel in Ile-Ife, Osun state, for the murder of Timothy Adegoke, a postgraduate student at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU).
Adedoyin was sentenced to death by hanging in May 2023 by the Osun state high court after being found guilty of the 2021 murder.
Oyebola Ojo, the trial judge, also convicted two others in connection with the crime.
The court ordered the forfeiture of the hotel and a Hilux bus used to transport Adegoke’s body to a dumping site.
In November 2021, Adegoke traveled from Abuja to Moro, Osun state, to sit for an exam at OAU’s distance learning centre.
He checked into Hilton Hotel but was reported missing two days later. His body was later discovered, prompting investigations that linked his death to Adedoyin and others.
Displeased by the judgment of the high court, Adedoyin approached the appeal court to dismiss the sentence and conviction.
Kehinde Eleja, counsel to Adedoyin, argued that neither the evidence nor the witnesses proved Adedoyin’s involvement in the murder case.
On Thursday, a three-member panel led by Olufemi Akeju upheld the conviction and death sentence of the hotelier, affirming the high court’s decision.
The court, however, overturned the earlier order requiring Adedoyin to forfeit his hotel and fund the education of Adegoke’s children.