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By Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Justice Adepele Ojo of the Osun State High Court, on Wednesday, said that prima facie case had been established against the owner of Hilton Hotels and Resorts, Ile Ife, Dr. Ramon Adedoyin, and six of his staff arraigned in connection with the death of late Timothy Adegoke, a Master’s student at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife.
Adedoyin, and six of his staff- Adedeji Adesola, Magdalene Chiefuna, Adeniyi Aderogba, Oluwale Lawrence, Oyetunde Kazeem, and Adebayo Kunle, had been arraigned on 11 counts bordering on conspiracy, murder, altering of receipt and administration of extrajudicial oath.
Ruling on the no-case submission filed by the defendants, Ojo, who is the Chief Judge of Osun State, said that going by the evidence already before the court, the defendants have a case to answer regarding the death and called on them to enter their defence.
She said: “Evidence before the court states that Timothy lodged in the hotel owned by Adedoyin. Adesola who is the 7th defendant, the receptionist received the lodger.”
The judge also held that wife of the deceased spoke to him while in the facility, but he could not be reached afterward by the wife.
She called on the defendants to enter their defence.
Following the ruling, counsel to the defendants, K. Eleja, said they would enter their defence. He, howver, asked for time to prepare their defence.
Justice Ojo adjourned the case till April 25 for opening of defence.
She subsequently adjourned the matter till April 25 for the defence to open their case.