Osun Judge threatens to return case file over absence of murder suspect in court

Justice Adepele Ojo of the Osun State High Court, Osogbo has directed that Rahman Adedoyin be produced in court on November 7, 2022.

Adedoyin, who is the owner of Hilton Hotels, Ile-Ife was alleged to be complicit in the murder of Timothy Adegoke, a postgraduate student of Obafemi Awolowo University in November 2021.

While delivering the ruling on Tuesday, Justice Ojo who noted that there was a time constraint in the case being heard, directed that Adedoyin be brought to court to resume trial.

Ojo also decried the time wasted in concluding the case due to the absence of Adedoyin in court on health grounds on two occasions and threatened to transfer the case file if the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) refuses to produce him.

She warned that she will be forced to grant some defendants bail and allow Adedoyin face the murder case.

While maintaining that the presence of Adedoyin was necessary to the case, the Judge asked the NCS to ensure his presence in court on the adjourned date of November 7.

She also demanded that a medical report on Adedoyin’s ill health be brought to court on the next date of adjournment.

The six other defendants in the murder trial are Magdalene Chiefuna, Adeniyi Aderogba, Oluwole Florence, Oyetunde Kazeem, Adebayo Kunle, and Adedeji Adesola.

They had also pleaded not guilty to the 11-count charge of conspiracy, murder, attempted felony, unlawful interference with a dead body, altering, and intent to destroy evidence slammed against them.