As the FCT High Court resumes trial today in the alleged murder trial the late Timothy Adegoke, the Obafemi Awolowo University postgraduate student killed in his hotel room at the Hilton Hotels, Ile-Ife, Osun State, there are indications that the trial Chief Rahmon Adedoyin, and other suspects in the alleged ritual murder may shift from the Abuja Court where the Police Force Central Intelligence Department (FCID) filed murder and related charges, to Osogbo in Osun State.
This is even as the family of the late Adegoke has written a letter to Human rights lawyer and crusader, Femi Falana SAN to represent the family in the trial.
Moreover, sources close to the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) that investigated the case told www.thegavel.com.ng that the team is presently at a loss at the charges filed before the court as the source claimed that the charges filed are contrary to their findings. A source actually believed that the original charges may have been compromised beyween the police and the court.
Charged alongside with Mr Adedoyin in the case filed at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, are: Adedeji Adesola, 23; Magdalene Chiefuna, 24; Adeniyi Aderogba, 37; Oluwale Lawrence, 37; Oyetunde Kazeem, 38; Adebayo Kunle, 35; and others still at large.
According to the case file seen by The ICIR, Mr Adedoyin faces a charge of attempted felony, conspiracy, unlawful interference with Adegoke’s corpse, and tampering with the hotel’s receipt and CCTV camera with the intent to destroy evidence that would prove that Mr Adegoke visited the hotel. However, the police allegedly excluded Mr Adedoyin from the murder charge, which others standing trial with him are facing.
The deceased family in their quest for justice for their son appealed to Falana to fight on their behalf. The lawyer accepted the brief. “We have accepted the instructions of the bereaved Adegoke Family. We shall handle the case pro bono publico and ensure that justice is done”, he said.
However, Mr Falana believed that whether right or wrong charges, the case was filed before the wrong court. Falana told www.thegavel.com.ng on Sunday evening he will object to the trial before the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja. “Murder is a state offence and has to be tried at the state where the offence is committed. In this case, the unfortunate murder of the late Adegoke was committed at Ile-Ife, Osun State. That is where the trial ought to take place, and I will try to persuade both the Abuja court and Inspector General of Police to transfer the case back to Osun State”, he said.
But the trial judge in the Abuja court, Justice Modupe Osho-Adebiyi allegedly said that since the case is criminal in nature, it could be heard in any part of the country.
The case summary reads: “The complaint made against the defendants was that on 5th of November, 2021, one Adegoke Timothy, and MBA student of Obafemi Awolowo University who lodged at Hilton Royal Hotel Oshogbo was murdered and his corpse was thrown into a bush at Oshogbo, and that the management of the hotel owned by Dr Rahmon Adedoyin, the MD Raheem Adedoyin, son of the chairman of the hotel, and other staff illegally disposed the deceased body and that they also destroyed the CCCT camera on the floor of hotel room 305 with a view to cover up.
“That the receipt No. 9316 issued to the deceased while he checked into the hotel room was found to have been altered. That investigation revealed that the deceased body was discovered lifeless in room 305, and the chairman was informed, and he told them his MD Raheem Adedoyin would handle the situation. It spent about 10 days before it was taken by the Environmental Unit of Osun State Environmental Department for burial after which the corpse was exhumed and autopsy conducted by Dr. Olusegun W. A. who stated that the deceased did not die of natural consequence. While Dr. Akinwumi O. Komolafe consultant pathologist and Professor Olusegun S. Ojo, consultant pathologist stated that the cause of death was not through a violence means.
That one of the white Hilux van which was allegedly used in carrying the body of the deceased by Raheem Adedoyin now at large was recovered in Abuja. That one of the prime suspects by name Raheem Adedoyin and a few others are still at large. Investigation further prove following offences; conspiracy, murder etc.”
Members of the Prosecution Section of the FCID Abuja, who signed the case filing are: Ochogwu Ogbeh, M. O. Omosun, Sidi Abdulrashid Isyaku.
Further trial continues today Monday February 8, 2022.
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