Omolosho Fatai
There was a tight security at the entrance of Osun state High Court on Thursday, as the trial of Dr Ramon Adedoyin, the owner of Hiltons Hotel, Ile-Ife, and six others in connection to the death of Timothy Adegoke, commenced.
TOS NEWS gathered that one Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) was stationed in front of the Court as three other police patrol vans were also parked at the entrance of the Court.
Nigeria Police Force resumed the trial of the suspects following a letter to the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, by counsel for the family of the victim, Femi Falana (SAN), for the trial to be moved to Osogbo from Abuja since the offences took place in Osun State.
Falana in the letter to the IGP in February had said, “Having killed Timothy in a gruesome manner, the assassins mutilated his body and proceed to bury it in an unmarked grave.
“The police investigation has since exhumed the mutilated body of the deceased. Based on the complaint of our clients, the Nigeria Police Force arrested some of the suspects while others who are currently at large had been declared wanted.
“To our utter dismay, the arrested suspects have been arraigned before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory on a 7- count charge of conspiracy to commit murder, conspiracy to commit improper or indecent interference with the body of the deceased, uttering and intent to destroy evidence under the Penal Code.
“However, as all the aforesaid criminal offences were said to have been committed at Ile-Ife, you will agree with us that the suspects ought to have been charged before a court of competent jurisdiction in Osun State.
“Consequently, we are compelled to request you to use your good offices to ensure that the case file is handed over to the Attorney-General of Osun State to enable him to study same with a view to filing relevant charges against the suspects at the High Court of Osun State.”
Adegoke lodged at Hilton Hotels on November 5, 2021, ahead of an examination at the OAU Distance Learning Centre, Moro, Osun State, on November 6 and 7.
He, however, went missing but he was later found dead.
Adedoyin and his workers were arrested following thorough findings by the IGP Intelligence Response Team from Abuja.
