An Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State capital has ordered that Ramon Adedoyin, six others arrested in connection with the death of Masters student of Obafemil Awolowo University, Timothy Adegoke, be remanded in Ilesa Correctional Centre.
Adedoyin who is the owner of Hiltons Hotel, Ile-Ife, on Thursday, was arraigned alongside a lady, Adedeji Adesola, Miss Magdalene Chiefuna, Adeniyi Aderogba, Oluwale Lawrence, Oyetunde Kazeem and Adebayo Kunle before the Osun State Chief Judge, Mrs Adepele Ojo of Court 1.
When the court clerk read out the 11-count charge to the defendants, they all pleaded not guilty. The charges bothered on conspiracy, murder, attempted felony, unlawful interference with a dead body, altering and intent to destroy evidence.
The case file number HOS/5C/2022 dated February 14, 2022 and filed February 17, 2022, was substituted with HOS/5C/2022, dated February 22, 2022 and filed March 2, 2022. The charges read out in court did not show that Adedoyin was charged with murder.
The lead prosecution counsel, M.O Omosun told the court that the defendants committed the offence sometimes between November 5, 2021 and November 7, 2021 within Ile-Ife area, Osun State.
Omosun said the defendants, with others now at large, conspired among themselves to kill one Timothy Adegoke for unjust reasons.
“They also altered and cancelled his receipt number 9316, which indicated the payment receipt made by Timothy Adegoke to Hilton Hotel in Ile Ife.
“The deceased body was dumped with his laptop, phones, and other belonging at an undisclosed place to cover up after his murder,” the charge partly read in court.
Omosun said the offences committed contravened sections 324, 306, 315, 509, 516, 519, 242, and 106 of the Criminal Code, Cap 38 Vol. 11, Laws of Osun State, 2004.
He pleaded with the court to order the remand of the defendants in correctional centre due to the magnitude of the alleged offences.
However, one of the counsels to Adedoyin, K. K. Eleja, prayed the court to grant the defendant bail in the most liberal terms after furnishing the court with a written application for bail.
Eleja drew the attention of the court to count four, six, eight, 10 and 11, which indicated that Adedoyin is not standing trial for a capital offence.
He cited section 157 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act of Osun State and pleaded with the court to grant the first defendant, Adedoyin, bail in affordable terms.