OAU student’s murder: I’ve no plan to pardon Adedoyin, says Adeleke

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has debunked reports making the rounds on social media that he is planning to subvert the death sentence on Dr Rahman Adedoyin, the killer of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) postgraduate student, Timothy Adegoke.

The Chief Judge of Osun State, Justice Adepele Ojo, in a judgement delivered on May 30, 2023, sentenced Adedoyin and two workers at Hilton Hotel in Ile-Ife, Osun State, to death by hanging for the murder of Adegoke.

Adegoke was found dead in November 2021 at the hotel owned by Adedoyin, who is also the founder of Oduduwa University in Ile-Ife.

However, Governor Adeleke, in a statement issued on Monday, June 26, by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, said he has no plan to pardon Adedoyin.

Rasheed stated: “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.

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“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.

“It is important to clarify that neither the governor nor his political party has any hidden plot on the said murder case other than a 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 governor.

“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 Nigerians to ignore the rumours of Governor Adeleke granting a state pardon to the convict and the move to link service records of a state judicial official to a popular verdict on the gruesome murder of Adegoke.

Rasheed added: “Those peddling such lies are agents of darkness acting on behalf of disgruntled, dark political elements. They are better ignored.

“We convey appreciation to men and women of goodwill who have put up spirited defense for the governor in the face of this orchestrated falsehood.

“The undiluted truth is that neither the state government nor the state governor  is interested in the subversion of the wheel of justice.”

The Star