The Osun State Government has said that it is not aware of any efforts to overturn Dr. Rahman Adedoyin’s death sentence.
Olawale Rasheed, the governor’s spokeswoman, issued a statement on Monday in Osogbo describing the social media rumor as untrue and reiterating that the state administration had no intention of pardoning Adedoyin.
Rasheed further asserted that Governor Ademola Adeleke did not interfere or intervene in the accusation, hearing, or sentencing of the defendant and that he is neither a friend or business partner of the owner of Oduduwa University.
Adedoyin, the owner of Oduduwa University in Ipetumodu, Osun State, got a death sentence for the murder of Timothy Adegoke.
The statement reads, “Reacting to the growing rumour of possible state pardon for the businessman, Governor Adeleke was quoted as noting that his administration has never and will never intervene in the judicial process, labeling those behind the fake news as public enemies.”
He described the rumour as fake news and those behind it as evil-minded political operatives desperate to blackmail the governor.
“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 State 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. That explains why no PDP member is involved as counsel for any of the convicted individuals and why the state judiciary enjoys and exercises its full independence in the hearing and jugdment of the case.
“It is uncharitable for political enemies and their paid agents to attempt any linkage between the convicted businessman and the state 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,” the statement read.
Recalled an allegation from a senior lawyer, Yomi Aliyu, that the state government had secretly planned to retire the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo, had also made the round.
The state government has, however, debunked the rumour.
Adedoyin and two others, Adeniyi Aderogba and Oyetunde Kazeem, were sentenced to death by hanging for the murder of Adegoke.
The deceased, a postgraduate student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, had died inside Hilton Hotels, Ile-Ife, in November 2021.
Hilton Hotels is also owned by Dr Rahman Adedoyin, who has since appealed the death sentence.
Adedoyin and other hotel staff members were arrested and arraigned before the Osun Chief Judge, Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo.