Adegoke: Court makes fresh pronouncement against Adedoyin, workers

Chief Ramon Adedoyin, the owner of the Hilton Honors Hotel in Ile-Ife, and six of his employees were re-arraigned on Monday on 18 charges of conspiracy and murder in the death of Timothy Adegoke, a Master’s student at Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife.

Adedoyin and the other defendants in the case were on trial, facing 11 charges of conspiracy, murder, and interfering with a body, among other things.

However, after the defense had concluded its argument, the prosecutor, Chief Femi Falana, SAN, came to the court with a motion requesting to alter the defendants’ charges in light of the new evidence before the court.

The defense attorney, however, objected to the application, claiming that it was made in bad faith.

The defendants were rearraigned on Monday after Osun State Chief Judge Adepele Ojo allowed the application to modify their charge.

In her judgment, Justice Ojo disregarded defense counsel’s assertions that the modification was presented in bad faith and that the prosecution was biased against their clients, stating that because a verdict had not been rendered, the prosecutor may modify the charge.

After the argument was overruled, the newly modified 18 charges were read to the seven defendants, who all pled not guilty.

“That you, Dr. Ramon Adedoyin, Magdalene Chiefuna, Adeniyi Aderogba, Oluwole Lawrence, Oyetunde Kazeem, Adebayo Kunle, Adedeji Adesola, and others now at large, on or between November 5, 2021 and the seventh day of November 2021, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did conspire amongst yourselves to unlawfully kill one Timothy

“That you, Dr. Ramon Adedoyin, Adeniyi Aderogba, Magdalene Chiefuna, Oyetunde Kazeem, Adedeji Adesola, and others now at large, unlawfully killed one Timothy Adegoke on or between November 5, 2021 and November 7, 2021, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, and thus committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 306 of the criminal code Vol II Cap

“That you, Dr. Ramon Adedoyin, Adeniyi Aderogba, Magdalene Chiefuna, Oluwole Lawrence, Oyetunde Kazeem, Adebayo Kunle, Adedeji Adesola, and others now at large, on or between November 5, 2021 and November 7, 2021, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, attempted to commit felony and thus committed an offence contrary to and punishable

The prosecutor, Fatima Adesina, praised the court’s decision, while Mr. K. Eleja, SAN, who defended Adedoyin, said his client would call a witness because the accusation against him had been changed. He requested seven days to prepare his testimony.

Mr Muritala Abdulrosheed, SAN, who represented the second, fourth, and fifth defendants, stated that only the fifth will be summoned to testify again.

Mr. Rowland Otaru, SAN, counsel for the third and sixth defendants, indicated his clients will summon witnesses, as did Okon Ita, lawyer for the seventh defendant, who stated her client would testify again.

The case was subsequently continued by Justice Ojo to Thursday, December 2, 2022, for the calling and recall of witnesses.