The Court of Appeal sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital, has upheld the death sentence handed to a prominent hotel owner, Dr Ramon Adedoyin, linked to the murder of a former Master's Degree student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Timothy Adegoke.

The appellate court affirmed the death sentence issued to Adedoyin by the Osun State High Court.

The Court of Appeal, which reserved its judgment on the matter on October 29, 2024, declared, “The judgment of the High Court of Osun State stands. Adedoyin’s appeal is dismissed in part. The Court of Appeal held that Adedoyin was properly convicted and sentenced to death.”

However, some aspects of the lower court were set aside by the appellate court.

The appellate court ruled,“Order of forfeiture of Hilton Hotel quashed and set aside. Order of education scholarship to children of Timothy Adegoke by Adedoyin and others quashed and set aside.”

Adegoke’s death was reported in November 2021, after he was discovered lifeless in a bush on lodging at the Hilton Honours Hotel in Ile-Ife.

After his family could not tell of his whereabouts, an alarm was raised which led to the arrest of six suspects including Adedoyin.