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BREAKING: Hilton Hotel owner, Adedoyin, speaks from detention, says ‘I know nothing about OAU student’s death’

Published

3 years ago

November 19, 2021

The owner of Hilton Hotel and Resort, Ile-Ife, Ramon Adedoyin, has denied involvement in the death of a Master’s student at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Timothy Adegoke.

Adedoyin, who is currently detained by Osun State Police Command over Adegoke’s death, noted that he did not connive with his workers or anyone to kill the student.

According to him, he first heard about Adegoke when police declared him missing.

The PUNCH had reported that Adegoke went to Ile-Ife to sit an exam at the OAU Distance Learning Centre, Moro campus, when he was declared missing on November 7.

Adegoke’s body was discovered after some suspects, including workers at the hotel, were arrested by the police.

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It was learnt that Adegoke had lodged in Hilton hotel located in Ile-Ife, Osun State between October 22 and November 5, 2021, before he was later declared missing.

The student was reported missing on Saturday, November 6 when he was not found at his exam hall and could not be reached by his wife and other family members.

The police later announced that the student had been found dead without giving details of how, when, and where he was found.

Adegoke was said to have lodged in the hotel on Friday, November 5 preceding his examinations scheduled for Saturday, November 6, and Sunday, November 7.

Adedoyin, who spoke in Yoruba, stated that he worked hard for his wealth, urging people not to tag him as a “money ritualist or murderer”.

In an audio message obtained by our correspondent and confirmed by one of his aides, the hotel owner appealed to the public to await police investigation on the matter.

He said, “I, Rahmon Adedoyin is not a murderer or money ritualist. God already blessed and enriched me since I was 26 years old and up till now that I am 65 years old.

“I have never killed anyone. I am a devout Muslim. Adegoke lodged at Hilton Hotel, Room 305. The hotel officials that lodged him did not pay any money in his name into the hotel’s account.

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“There was also no record that he paid into the hotel’s WEMA Bank account. I don’t know how he was given a room without making payment into the official account of the company. I don’t know why they decided to receive the payment into their personal account.

“I was only informed that something like that happened at the Hilton Hotel when police started searching for Timothy.

“When they (police) investigated and found where Timothy’s corpse was dumped, senior police officers checked his body and confirmed that no part of his body was missing, so it is clear that no one asked them to get any of his body parts.

“I appeal to everyone to be patient and allow police to do their work and thorough investigation.

“I had my humble beginning from Ile-Ife. I started as a home lesson teacher, started universal college of tech, a polytechnic and then university.

“I never left Ile-Ife before God blessed me and made me rich. My wealth is pure. I am not spending blood money.”

Adedoyin and his worker, Adedeji Adesola, were earlier accused of being involved in the disappearance of Adegoke.

It was learnt that the hotel worker initially denied that Adegoke lodged in the hotel until evidence surfaced that he paid into Adesola’s account.

However, Osun State Police Command on Thursday said no part of the deceased missed when the corpse was exhumed.

Featuring during a programme monitored on Fresh FM, in Osogbo on Thursday, the command’s spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, also said Adedoyin was arrested after investigation revealed that the late Adegoke checked into the facility before he was declared missing.

Opalola, who also claimed the corpse of the deceased was exhumed in the presence of his family members, said the remains were later deposited at the morgue of Obafemi Awolowo University, Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife for autopsy.

The PUNCH had also reported that the hotel had been shut down.

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BREAKING: Appeal Court stops Sanusi’s reinstatement as Kano emir

Published

13 minutes ago

March 14, 2025

Trends Admin

BREAKING: Appeal Court stops Sanusi’s reinstatement as Kano emir

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has stopped the reinstatement of Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II as the Emir of Kano.

The court on Friday halted the enforcement of its January 10 judgment, which upheld the Kano State government’s repeal of the 2019 Emirates Council Law, pending the Supreme Court’s determination of an appeal on the same matter.

The ruling was unanimously delivered by a three-member panel led by Justice Okon Abang.

It ruled that the applicant, having served as Emir for five years before his removal, had legal rights that required protection until the Supreme Court delivers a final verdict.

The appellate court had earlier set aside a June 20, 2024 ruling by Justice Abubakar Liman of the Federal High Court in Kano, which nullified the Kano State government’s dissolution of five emirates in the state and the subsequent reinstatement of Sanusi as the 16th Emir of Kano.

The Court of Appeal then ruled that the lower court lacked jurisdiction over the case

Dissatisfied with the ruling, an injunction request was filed by Alhaji Aminu Babba Dan Agundi (Sarkin Dawaki Babba) against the Kano State Government, the Speaker of the State Assembly, the Inspector General of Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and other security agencies.

Dan Agundi sought to restrain the respondents from enforcing the appellate court’s judgment while awaiting the apex court’s decision.

However, in its unanimous decision, the Court of Appeal agreed that the application had merit and granted the injunction.

Justice Abang stated, “The law is settled. The court is enjoined to exercise its discretion judiciously and in the interest of justice.”

The ruling ordered that all parties must maintain the “status quo ante bellum,” preserving the situation as it was before the Federal High Court’s judgment on June 13, 2024.

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Tragedy as 25-year-old man hangs self in Ogun forest

Published

8 hours ago

March 14, 2025

Trends Admin

CSP Omolola Odutola

Tragedy as 25-year-old man hangs self in Ogun forest

The Police Command in Ogun State has launched an investigation into the death of a 25-year-old man, Toye Dominic, whose body was discovered hanging from a tree in a forest near Alagbodagbo Village, Ijebu Igbo.

In a statement released on Thursday, the command’s spokesperson, CSP Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident and said the body was found around 4:30 p.m.

According to Odutola, a local hunter, Kareem Olawalose, came across the scene while on a hunting trip and promptly reported the discovery to the Ijebu Igbo Divisional Police Headquarters.

After spotting the body, Olawalose sought assistance from a nearby village, where he met the deceased’s elder brother, Joseph Dominic.

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The brother disclosed that Toye had left for the farm earlier in the day but failed to return, prompting a search by concerned family members.

“Policemen and villagers on arrival at the scene, observed that the deceased had set aside his farm tools before proceeding further into the forest, where he was found hanging from a tree.“No suicide note was found, and family members expressed shock and disbelief over the incident,” Odutola said.

She added that officers documented the scene with photographs, and the body was taken to General Hospital, Ijebu Ode, for further examination.
Odutola assured the public that the police would carry out a comprehensive investigation to determine the events leading to the tragedy.

She also encouraged community members to stay alert and support people who might be experiencing emotional distress, emphasizing the importance of mental health awareness and timely intervention.

Tragedy as 25-year-old man hangs self in Ogun forest

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Ex-Kwara Gov AbdulFatah Ahmed rearranged in N5.8bn fraud case

Published

8 hours ago

March 14, 2025

Trends Admin

Former Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed

Ex-Kwara Gov AbdulFatah Ahmed rearranged in N5.8bn fraud case

The Kwara State High Court has fixed April 10 and 11 for the continuation of the trial of former governor AbdulFatah Ahmed and his finance commissioner, Demola Banu, over the alleged diversion of 5.78 billion naira from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) fund.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting the two officials, who have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Testifying in court, Engineer Abdulsalam Olanrewaju, a former project manager at the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), revealed that despite the state paying counterpart funds in 2014 and 2015, no contracts were awarded.

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He stated that while the 2013 contractors were eventually paid after protesting delays, funds meant for subsequent projects remained unused.

During cross-examination, Olanrewaju clarified that signatories to the SUBEB account were the accountant, permanent secretary, and executive chairman of the board.

Earlier, a second witness, Dr. Musa Dasuki, emphasized that matching grants from UBEC and SUBEB are strictly meant for school infrastructure and cannot be diverted for other purposes.