Ademola Adeleke, the governor of Osun State, has denied social media rumors that he is attempting to overturn Dr. Rahmon Adedoyin’s death sentence for the murder of master’s student Timothy Adegoke at Obafemi Awolowo University.
Adegoke, who had stayed at Adedoyin’s Hilton honors Hotel in Ile-Ife, was discovered dead there in November 2021.
Adedoyin and two hotel employees were found guilty of murder in a decision made on May 31 by Justice Adepele Ojo, the Chief Judge of Osun State.
In a ruling that lasted more than two hours, Ojo declared that the circumstantial evidence in the case indicated that Adegoke was killed while a guest at Adedoyin’s hotel.
In response to the accusation, Olawale Rasheed, the governor’s press secretary, confirmed in a press release made accessible to The Spectator on Monday that there is no intention to pardon the owner of the Oduduwa University.
The statement read, “Reacting to the growing rumor of possible state pardon for the businessman, Governor Adeleke was quoted as noting that his administration never has and will never intervene in the judicial process, labeling those behind the fake news as public enemies.
“Governor Adeleke has not and will never contemplate exercising the prerogative of mercy or whatever the report calls it, on a matter under adjudication which has generated deep interest among local and global communities.
No PDP member is involved as counsel for any of the convicted individuals, and the state judiciary must enjoy and exercise its full independence in the hearing and judgment of cases, according to Adeleke, who also noted that he has no hidden agenda regarding the aforementioned murder other than the public interest agenda to see those responsible face the full force of the law.
He further said, “It is uncharitable for political enemies and their paid agents to attempt any linkage between the convicted businessman and me.
“We affirm with all sense of responsibility that Governor Adeleke is not at any material time a friend or partner of the owner of Oduduwa University and did not interfere, intervene or manifest any untoward agenda in the arraignment, hearing and sentencing of the accused.
Therefore, he asked the general public to disregard the persistent rumors about the convict’s state pardon.
