Ademola Adeleke, the governor of Osun State, has denied social media rumours 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 Honours 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, said in a press release made public on Monday that there is no intention to pardon the owner of the Oduduwa University.
In response to the spreading rumour of a potential state pardon for the businessman, Governor Adeleke was quoted as saying that his administration “never has and will never intervene in the judicial process,” branding those responsible for the false information as “public enemies.”
“Evil-minded political operatives who are desperately trying to blackmail the state governor are the ones who invented the fake news.
“Governor Adeleke has never considered—and never will—using the prerogative of mercy—or whatever the report refers to it as—on a case that is currently being adjudicated and that has sparked intense interest among local and international 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 judgement 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 continued, “Any attempt to establish a connection between the convicted businessman and me by political rivals and their paid agents is uncharitable.
In the arraignment, hearing, and sentencing of the accused, “We affirm with all sense of responsibility that Governor Adeleke is not at any time material a friend or partner of the owner of Oduduwa University and did not interfere, intervene, or manifest any untoward agenda.
Therefore, he urged the general public to disregard the persistent rumours of the convict’s state pardon.
