Court okays charges’ amendment against Adedoyin, workers

The owner of Hilton Honors Hotel, Ile-Ife, Chief Ramon Adedoyin, and six of his staff were on Monday re-arraigned on 18 counts bordering on conspiracy and murder of a Master’s student of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Timothy Adegoke.

Adedoyin and the other defendants in the matter had been on trial, facing 11 counts of conspiracy, murder and interference with corpse, among others.

But the prosecutor, Chief Femi Falana, SAN, after the defence had closed its case, approached the court with an application seeking to amend the charge of the defendants, in view of the new evidence before the court.

The application was however opposed by the defence counsel, who said it was brought in bad faith.

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At Monday’s proceedings, the defendants were rearraigned after Osun State Chief Judge, Adepele Ojo, had granted the application seeking to amend their charge.

In her ruling, Justice Ojo,  dismissed claims by the defence counsel that the amendment was brought in bad faith and that the prosecutor was bias against their clients, saying since judgement had not been given, the prosecutor could amend the charge.

Having struck out the objection, the newly amended 18 counts were read to the seven defendants and they all pleaded not guilty.

The amended count partly read, “That you, Dr. Ramon Adedoyin, Magdalene Chiefuna, Adeniyi Aderogba, Oluwole Lawrence, Oyetunde Kazeem, Adebayo Kunle, Adedeji Adesola and others now at large, on or between the November 5, 2021 and the seventh day of November 2021, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did conspire amongst yourselves to unlawfully kill one Timothy Adegoke and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 324 of the criminal code Vol II Cap 34 laws of Osun State 2002. 

“That you Dr. Ramon Adedoyin, Adeniyi Aderogba, Magdalene Chiefuna, Oyetunde Kazeem, Adedeji Adesola and others now at large, on or between November 5, 2021 and seventh day of November 2021, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did unlawfully killed one Timothy Adegoke and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 306 of the criminal code Vol II Cap 34, laws of Osun State 2002. 

“That you Dr. Ramon Adedoyin, Adeniyi Aderogba, Magdalene Chiefuna, Oluwole Lawrence, Oyetunde Kazeem, Adebayo Kunle, Adedeji Adesola and others now at large on or between November 5, 2021 and seventh day of November 2021, within the jurisdiction of this honourable court, did attempt to commit felony and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under 509 of the criminal code Vol II Cap 34 laws of Osun State 2002.”

Reacting to the ruling, the prosecutor, Fatima Adesina, commended the decision of the court, while Mr. K. Eleja, SAN, who represented Adedoyin said his client would call a witness, since the charge against him had been amended. He asked for seven days to prepare his witness. 

Mr Muritala Abdulrosheed, SAN, who represented the second, fourth and fifth defendants, said only the fifth defendant would be called again to testify.

The counsel representing the third and sixth defendants, Mr. Rowland Otaru, SAN, said his clients would call some witnesses, likewise the counsel to the seventh defendant, Okon Ita, who said her client would also testify again.

Justice Ojo then adjourned the matter to Thursday, December 2, 2022 for calling and recalling of witnesses.