Gov Adeleke: I have no intention to pardon Adedoyin

By Nimot Sulaimon

Governor Ademola Adeleke has dismissed reports that he is plotting to commute the death sentence of Dr Rahmon Adedoyin, the killer of Obafemi Awolowo University master student Timothy Adegoke.

Adegoke was discovered dead in November 2021 at Adedoyin’s Hilton Honours Hotel in Ile-Ife, where he (the deceased) had stayed.

On May 31, the Chief Judge of Osun State, Justice Adepele Ojo, found Adedoyin and two hotel employees guilty of murder.

Ojo ruled in a two-hour-long decision that circumstantial evidence pointed to Adegoke’s murder while he was a guest at Adedoyin’s hotel.

Responding to the allegation, Olawale Rasheed, the governor’s spokesperson, stated in a press statement on Monday that there are no plans to pardon the proprietor of Oduduwa University.

The statement read, “Reacting to the growing rumour 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, labelling those behind the fake news as public enemies.

“Those who concocted the fake news are evil-minded political operatives who are merely grasping at straws in their desperation to blackmail the state Governor.

“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.

He noted that there was no hidden plot on the said murder other than the public interest agenda to see culprits in the dastardly act face the full wrath of the law.

“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 judgement of cases.

“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.

He, therefore, urged the members of the public to ignore the repeated rumours of state pardon for the convict.