Osun hotelier Ramon Adedoyin has denied involvement in the death of a postgraduate student at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Timothy Adegoke.
Mr Adegoke had lodged at Hilton Hotel and Resort, Ile-Ife in preparation for his examination at one of the varsity’s campuses. But he was declared missing by the police on November 7.
About a week later, Mr Adedoyin was arrested after Adegoke was found dead. Six others were arrested in connection with the incident.
However, in a voice recording that went viral on social media, Adedoyin said he only became aware that the 37-year-old lodged in his hotel, when police came looking for him.
“I got wind of his case for the first time, when he was declared missing and the police came searching for him in the hotel,” he said.
Adedoyin, who is also the founder of Oduduwa University, said there was no record that Adegoke lodged in the hotel because the workers did not pay any money into the hotel’s account.
He said, “God has blessed me since I was 26 years old till now that I am 65. I have never killed anyone or involved in any act of ritual killing. Mr Adegoke lodged in room 305 of Hilton Hotel and Resort. The workers that lodged him did not pay into the hotel account neither did record reflect that he paid into the hotel’s Wema Bank account.
“We don’t know why he was lodged without payment into the hotel account but personal accounts.
“I was aware of his story when police came to the hotel searching for him. His body was later discovered where he was dumped. It was found in the presence of police officials and his body was not mutilated. This indicated that they (staff) were not sent to kill him for ritual. I plead with Nigerians to allow police continue to with their diligent investigation with a view to unravel the mystery behind the killing.”
Adedoyin said he began his career as a home lesson teacher in Ile-Ife and built his “businesses and schools from within.”
