‘Fake news by political operatives’ — Adeleke denies alleged plan to pardon hotelier Adedoyin

Ademola Adeleke, governor of Osun state, has denied an alleged plan to pardon Rahmon Adedoyin, the owner of Hilton Honours hotel, Ile-Ife.

In May, Adedoyin was sentenced to death by hanging over the murder of Timothy Adegoke, a post-graduate student of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU).

Adegoke died in 2021.

Adedoyin was sentenced to death alongside two others who were found guilty of murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Oyebola Ojo, the Osun chief judge, ordered the forfeiture of the hotel and the Hilux bus used to convey the deceased to the dumping ground.

‘EVIL-MINDED POLITICAL OPERATIVES’

Reacting to the rumour that Adedoyin will be pardoned, Olawale Rasheed, chief press secretary to the governor, in a statement on Monday, said “political operatives” are trying to blackmail Adeleke.

Rasheed asked Osun residents to ignore the rumour, adding that the governor will not interfere in the sentencing and conviction of the hotelier.

“Those who concocted the fake news are evil-minded political operatives who are merely grasping at straws in their desperation to blackmail the state governor,” the statement reads.

“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 judgment 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 .

“We therefore urge members of the public to ignore the repeated rumors of state pardon by Governor Adeleke for the convict and the watery push to link service records of a state judicial official to a popular verdict on the gruesome murder of a post-graduate student.

“Those peddling such lies are agents of darkness acting on behalf of disgruntled, dark political elements. They are better ignored.”