OAU student death: Adedoyin, 6 staff rearraigned on 18 count of conspiracy, murder
The owner of Hilton Honors Hotel, Ile-Ife, Chief Ramon Adedoyin, and six of his staff were on Monday rearraigned on 18 count bordering on conspiracy and murder of a Master’s student of Obafemi Awolowo University, Timothy Adegoke.
It will be recalled that Adedoyin and other defendants had been on trial facing 11-count of conspiracy, murder and interference with corpse, among others.
But the prosecutor, Chief Femi Falana, after the defence had closed its case, approached the court with an application seeking to amend the charge in view of the evidence before the court.
The defendants were rearraigned after Osun State Chief Judge, Adepele Ojo, granted application seeking to amend the charge filed by the prosecutor, Chief Femi Falana.
In her ruling, Justice Ojo, dismissed claims by the defence counsel that the amendment was brought in bad faith and that the prosecutor was bias against their clients.
Having struck out the defence counsel objection to the application for the amendment of the charge, the newly amended 18 count charge were read to the defendants and they all pleaded not guilty.
The amended count partly read, “That you Dr. Ramon Adedoyin, Magdalene Chiefuna, Adeniyi Aderogba, Oluwole Lawrence, Oyetunde Kazeem, Adebayo Kunle, Adedeji Adesola and others now at large, on or between the 5th of November, 2021 and the 7th day of November 2021, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did conspire amongst yourselves to unlawfully kill one Timothy Adegoke and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 324 of the criminal code Vol II Cap 34 laws of Osun State 2002.
“That you Dr. Ramon Adedoyin, Adeniyi Aderogba, Magdalene Chiefuna, Oyetunde Kazeem, Adedeji Adesola and others now at large, on or between the 5th day of November 2021 and 7th day of November 2021, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did unlawfully killed one Timothy Adegoke and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 306 of the criminal code Vol II Cap 34, laws of Osun State 2002.
“That you Dr. Ramon Adedoyin, Adeniyi Aderogba, Magdalene Chiefuna, Oyetunde Kazeem, Adedeji Adesola and others now at large on or between the 5th day of November 2021 and 7th day of November 2021, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did unlawfully killed one Timothy Adegoke and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 315 of the criminal code Vol II Cap 34 laws of Osun State 2002.
“That you Dr. Ramon Adedoyin, Adeniyi Aderogba, Magdalene Chiefuna, Oluwole Lawrence, Oyetunde Kazeem, Adebayo Kunle, Adedeji Adesola and others now at large on or between the 5th day of November 2021 and 7th day of November 2021, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did attempt to commit felony and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under 509 of the criminal code Vol II Cap 34 laws of Osun State 2002.”
Reacting to the ruling, the prosecutor, Fatima Adesina, commended the decision of the court, while Mr. K. Eleja, SAN, who represented Adedoyin said his client would call a witness, since charge against him had been amended. He asked for 7 days to prepare his witness.
Mr Muritala Abdulrosheed, SAN, who represented the 2nd, 4th and 5th defendants, said only the 5th defendant would be called again to testify.
The counsel representing 3rd and 6th defendants, Mr. Rowland Otaru, SAN, said his clients would call some witnesses, likewise the counsel to the 7th defendant, Okon Ita, who said her client would also testify again.
Justice Ojo then adjourned the matter to Thursday, December 2 for calling and recalling of witnesses.
Punch
