BREAKING: OAU Student: Adedoyin, Others Absent As Court Reserves Ruling On Bail Applications

A High Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, has reserved ruling on bail applications for Hilton Hotel owner, Dr. Ramon Adedoyin, and six others arraigned in connection with the death of Timothy Adegoke, a Master’s student of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, till Monday.

None of the defendants was present during Friday’s session.

The prosecution counsel, M. Omosun, informed the court that they were remanded in Ilesa Correctional Centre.

Osun State Chief Judge, Justice Adepele Ojo, who presided over the matter, then agreed that the matter could proceed without the defendants.

Adedoyin, Adedeji Adesola, Magdalene Chiefuna, Adeniyi Aderogba, Oluwale Lawrence, Oyetunde Kazeem and Adebayo Kunle had appeared before the court on 11 counts bordering on murder, indecent interference with a dead body, administration of extrajudicial oath and alteration to conceal evidence.

All the defendants pleaded not guilty and were remanded in Ilesa Correctional Centre, while their counsel, K. Eleja, SAN, and Kunle Adegoke, SAN, moved formal bail applications for first and sixth defendants.

But Adegoke said a formal bail application could not be filed for the seventh defendant, Adedeji Adesola, because she was added to the matter a day before the commencement of the case, asking for an adjournment to enable him to file a formal application for her.

At Friday’s proceedings counsel to the seventh defendant, Okon Ita, moved a formal bail application for her on health grounds, adding that seven more reasons had been listed to also support the bail sought by the defendant.

Prosecution counsel, Omosun, opposed the application, saying a counter-application, an affidavit deposed to by ASP Idoko and a written address had been filed against the bail application.

In her ruling, Justice Ojo reserved ruling on all bail applications till Monday and notified the counsels that trial would also commence the same day.