Wife of Hilton hotel owner speaks

The wife of Ramon Adedoyin, owner of the Hilton Hotel and Resort, Ile Ife, Osun State, has denied allegations of ritual murder against her husband.

Iyabo Adedoyin said PREMIUM TIME that her husband is a patriotic Nigerian and not a criminal.

“Adedoyin does not know anything about this incident, really the man died at the hotel and the police opened an investigation into the matter.

“Some said my husband ran away, that’s not true, my husband never ran anywhere. Everything that is happening is just a test of our faith as believers.

“Everything that is hidden is glaring before the Almighty, but before I say anything I must say that I really sympathize with the family of the deceased, but these lies spread about my husband are only saddened by the unfortunate. incident, but overall, I really really sympathize with the family of the deceased, especially his wife.

Suspected ritual murder

The controversy followed the death of Timothy Adegoke, a master’s student at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, who was staying at the Hilton Hotel and Resort, with residents calling for a full investigation into the case.

Mr. Adegoke was in Osun State taking an exam at the OAU Distance Learning Center, Moro Campus, when he went missing on November 7.

PREMIUM TIMES has learned that Mr Adegoke’s body was discovered after some suspects, including hotel employees, were arrested by police for questioning.

On Wednesday, the Osun State Police Command said the owner of the hotel, Mr. Adedoyin, had been arrested.

Police spokesman Yemisi Opalola explained that a missing person case was reported to Edun Abon police station on November 7, before being transferred to the state Criminal Investigation Department. November 9.

Ms Opalola also said that after receiving the case at SCID, detectives took action and arrested six suspects in connection with the case.

Residents around the hotel who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES said police arrested the six suspects and the hotel owner after allegedly burying Mr Adegoke when he was discovered dead.

One resident, who identified himself as Rasheed, said: “The police arrested them all because they discovered that they had secretly buried the deceased at a location not too far from the hotel.

“That’s what we were told, ask anyone here, they’ll tell you the same.”

When a PREMIUM TIMES reporter visited the hotel, there was no activity in the establishment. Our reporter was not allowed into the hotel because a man in a white shirt kept repeating: “We are not currently working. “

PCRC calls for calm

Ahead of the Zone 2 Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) Zone 2 meeting in Lagos on Friday, National Vice President Ibrahim Olaniyan praised the police for the arrest of suspects linked to the hotel where the deceased would have lodged.

Mr Olaniyan also called on family members, friends and relatives of the deceased to join the police to ensure the success of the ongoing investigation into the case.

He also cautioned members of the public against unsubstantiated comments on the matter, especially on social media platforms, disregarding the ongoing investigative process.

Alumni of Oduduwa University take the floor

The alumni association of Oduduwa University, Ile-Ife, denied the institution’s involvement in the alleged ritual murder.

Mr. Adeoyin is also the founder of the university, which explains the rumors of a planned attack on the institution.

But Olatunji Quadri, the president of the alumni association, denied that the university was involved in the incident.

“Hilton hotels are not Oduduwa University,” Quadri said in a statement.

“Mr. Adegoke, like every human being had a right to live and did not deserve to die in the prime of his life.

“At this time, we extend our condolences to the family, friends and associates of Mr. Timothy Adegoke, and pray that God will grant them the courage to bear this tremendous loss. “

Mr Quadri frowned at media reports seeking to link the university to the alleged ritual murder.

“We strongly condemn the unethical, unpleasant, unreasonable, illogical and selfish way some of the country’s mainstream media have framed and projected the story just to create more ‘traffic’ for their online sites and sell more newspapers. in newsstands. “

The president, however, called on the Nigerian police to step up efforts to uncover the truth behind Mr Adegoke’s death.

“In the same vein, we implore the Nigerian police not to relax their efforts to uncover the truth about the incident which claimed the life of the innocent man and to ensure that justice is done.

“The sad event which is currently under investigation did not occur on the premises of Oduduwa University.

“Our superior citadel of learning which has produced young people in high places in society in just 12 years of its existence has no affiliation in the unfolding history and as such it has become surprising why peddlers of inferior information would drag the university’s name into the mix.