Adegoke’s widow weeps, testifies as court denies Adedoyin, six others bail
Adegoke
Mrs. Bolatito Adegoke, a widow to Timothy Adegoke, the late postgraduate student of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, who was allegedly murdered at Hilton Hotels and Resorts, Ile-Ife, where he lodged, yesterday, broke down in tears, when she was called to enter into the witness dock for the commencement of the murder trial at Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo.
Bolatito, the first prosecutor’s witness, who was led in evidence by the prosecutor, narrated how her late husband, Timothy Adegoke, left home on November 5, 2021, for his final examination at OAU, before he lodged at Hilton Hotels and Resorts, Ile-Ife.
She said: “On 5 November 2021, my husband left home for his final exam at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. My husband doesn’t joke with his family, when he arrived at the airport, he called me that he was at the Abuja airport.
“He had a meeting with tax officers in Ibadan. He was carrying a leather box, which he said he would not want to go to Ile-Ife with.
“I called a friend named Iyabo Ogeji at Akure to collect the leather box from him. He called later to say that my friend had collected the leather box from him and my friend also called to confirm.
“When he arrived at Hilton Hotel, Ile-Ife, he called me again. At about 8:00 p.m., I called him to report one of our children to him.
“He told me that I should not worry that we will talk later as he wants to wake up by 12:00a.m. to read.
“My husband used to call me before he went for the examination, but on Saturday, November 6, 2021, I did not see his call.
“I called him more than three times. I was worried and I told my children and started weeping because the issue of kidnapping is rampant in Nigeria.
“Since that time I continued calling his phone till around 4:00 p.m. When he did not respond to the calls I informed one of our church Shepherds in Abuja.
“He consoled me that I should be patient, but I told him that such a thing has never happened since our marriage.
“I informed his office about the situation. On Sunday, November 8, 2021, at about 5:00 p.m., I called one of my husband’s sisters in Osogbo.
“I told her to help me check my husband at the examination hall, I also called one of his friends, a chartered accountant and he called his friend at Ile-Ife to check the hotel and the examination hall. I told them that he lodged at the Hilton Hotel.
Earlier, the trial judge and Osun State Chief Judge, Adepele Ojo, had refused bail applications brought before the court by Dr. Rahman Adedoyin and six of his hotel workers over the murder of Timothy Adegoke.
Adedoyin, Magdalene Chiefuna, Adeniyi Aderogba, Oluwole Lawrence, Oyetunde Kazeem Adebayo Kunle and Adedeji Adesola were last week remanded in prison after they were arraigned on eleven-count charges, bordering on murder, conspiracy, felony amongst others.
Counsel to the defendants, Kunle Adegoke and K. K Eleja, had last week argued the bail applications of all the defendants, which were opposed by the prosecuting counsel, M O Omosun.
Ruling on the applications amid heavy security presence at the entrance, yesterday, Justice Ojo said the defendants’ medical conditions, which were the core reasons, their counsels adduced for bail, are not too serious that they cannot be attended to at the Correctional Service.
The judge said the defendants have failed to prove that the Correctional Centres did not have adequate facilities to take care of their medical issues.
According to her, the nature of the offences preferred against the defendants demands that the court be cautious in granting such bail applications.
Meanwhile further hearing on the matter continues today.
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