The owner of Hilton Hotel and Resort, Ile-Ife, Ramon Adedoyin, has denied involvement in the death of a Master’s student at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Timothy Adegoke.
Adedoyin, who is currently in police detention, noted that he did not connive with his workers or anyone to kill Adegoke, He added that the first time he heard about Adegoke was when police declared the student missing.
Adedoyin, who spoke in Yoruba, stated that he worked hard for his wealth, urging people not to tag him as a “money ritualist or murderer”.
WITHIN NIGERIA had reported that Adegoke was declared missing on November 7 after he left Abuja to Ile-Ife to sit an exam at the OAU Distance Learning Centre, Moro campus.
The student was reported missing on Saturday, November 6 when he was not found at his exam hall and could not be reached by his wife and other family members.
Adegoke’s body was discovered after some suspects, including workers at the hotel, where he lodged between October 22 and November 5, 2021, were arrested by the police.
According to PUNCH, in an audio message confirmed by one of his aides, Adedoyin appealed to the public to await police investigation on the matter.
He said, “I, Rahmon Adedoyin is not a murderer or money ritualist. God already blessed and enriched me since I was 26 years old and up till now that I am 65 years old.
“I have never killed anyone. I am a devout Muslim. Adegoke lodged at Hilton Hotel, Room 305. The hotel officials that lodged him did not pay any money in his name into the hotel’s account.
“There was also no record that he paid into the hotel’s WEMA Bank account. I don’t know how he was given a room without making payment into the official account of the company. I don’t know why they decided to receive the payment into their personal account.
“I was only informed that something like that happened at the Hilton Hotel when police started searching for Timothy. I know nothing about his death.
“When they (police) investigated and found where Timothy’s corpse was dumped, senior police officers checked his body and confirmed that no part of his body was missing. I did not ask them to get any of his body parts.
“I appeal to everyone to be patient and allow police to do their work and thorough investigation.
“I had my humble beginning from Ile-Ife. I started as a home lesson teacher, founded universal college of tech, a polytechnic and then university.
“I never left Ile-Ife before God blessed me and made me rich. My wealth is pure. I am not spending blood money.”
The hotel worker was said to have initially denied that Adegoke lodged in the hotel until evidence surfaced that he paid into Adedeji Adesola’s account.
However, spokesperson of the state police command, Yemisi Opalola, on Thursday said no part of the deceased missed when the corpse was exhumed.
Opalola also claimed the corpse of the deceased was exhumed in the presence of his family members.