The Court of Appeal, Akure Division, Ondo State, yesterday upheld the death sentence of a prominent hotelier and industrialist, Rahmon Adedoyin, for the murder of Timothy Adegoke.

The appellate court, upholding the judgment of the High Court in Osogbo, Osun State, ruled that Adedoyin had been properly convicted by the lower court.

However, Justice Oyebisi Omoleye quashed the lower court’s judgment regarding the forfeiture of his property to the state government and the order mandating Adedoyin to be responsible for the education of the deceased’s children.

The judgment reads in part: “The judgment of the High Court of Osun State stands. Adedoyin’s appeal is dismissed in part. Order of forfeiture of Hilton Hotel quashed and set aside. Order of education scholarship to children of Timothy Adegoke by Adedoyin and others quashed and set aside.”

Adegoke, a former Master’s student at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, and a chartered accountant, was killed at Adedoyin’s hotel after travelling to Ile-Ife to sit his MBA examination.

The appellate court had, on October 29, reserved judgment on the matter 16 months after the industrialist filed an appeal.