The Governor of Osun, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has denied rumours circulating on social media that he is planning to overturn the death sentence of Dr. Rahmon Adedoyin, convicted in the murder case of Obafemi Awolowo University graduate student, Timothy Adegoke.
ADULAWO NEWS reports that Adegoke was found dead in November 2021 at Adedoyin’s Hilton Honours Hotel in Ile-Ife, where he had been staying.
On May 31, the Chief Judge of Osun State, Justice Adepele Ojo, found Adedoyin and two hotel staff members guilty of murder.
Justice Ojo stated that available circumstantial evidence clearly pointed to Adegoke’s murder while he was a guest at Adedoyin’s hotel.
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Responding to the allegations of a planned pardon, the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, stated in a press release that there are no plans to pardon Adedoyin, who is also the proprietor of the Oduduwa University.
The statement read, “Reacting to the growing rumour of possible state pardon for the businessman, Governor Adeleke was quoted as noting that his administration never has and will never intervene in the judicial process, labelling those behind the fake news as public enemies.
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“Those who concocted the fake news are evil-minded political operatives who are merely grasping at straws in their desperation to blackmail the state Governor.
“Governor Adeleke has not and will never contemplate exercising the prerogative of mercy or whatever the report calls it, on a matter under adjudication which has generated deep interest among local and global communities.”
Adeleke noted that he has no hidden plot on the said murder other than the public interest agenda to see culprits in the dastardly act face the full wrath of the law, adding, “No PDP member is involved as counsel for any of the convicted individuals and the state judiciary must enjoy and exercise its full independence in the hearing and judgement of cases.”
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He further said, “It is uncharitable for political enemies and their paid agents to attempt any linkage between the convicted businessman and me.
“We affirm with all sense of responsibility that Governor Adeleke is not at any material time a friend or partner of the owner of Oduduwa University and did not interfere, intervene or manifest any untoward agenda in the arraignment, hearing and sentencing of the accused.”