The Osun State Police Command has said that the viral audio message in which Hilton Hotel and Resort chief, Dr Ramon Adedoyin, absolved himself of the killing of Obafemi Awolowo University student, Timothy Adegoke, was made before his arrest.
Adedoyin was arrested and detained on November 15 in connection with Adegoke’s death but on November 19 an audio recording went viral in which he denied involvement in the killing of the Master of Business Administration (MBA) student.
A statement by police spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, said, “On the issue of audio recording made by Dr. Rahman Adedoyin, the police were embarrassed with this development.
“On investigation, Dr. Rahman Adedoyin admitted being the author of the audio message. He said that he felt inclined to make it when some members of his staff were arrested by the police. He affirmed making it before he was arrested to defend himself when some people, especially the brother of the deceased, was referring to him as a ritualist. He said it was made to clear himself because they have already maligned his character even without due process of law.
“He further stated that he recorded the audio before his arrest by the police.
His staff were arrested on the 11th and 12th November, 2021 while he (Dr. Rahman Adedoyin) was subsequently arrested on the 15th November, 2021.
“He said he did not know whether the audio was released or when it was released until police told him about it, since he has been incarcerated since 15th November, 2021, and doesn’t have access to his phone. Meanwhile, police will stop at nothing at unravelling who actually released the audio.”
Adedoyin, in the audio clip, noted that he did not connive with his workers or anyone to kill the student.
He said he heard about the student for the first time when the police declared him missing.
Adedoyin, who spoke in Yoruba, stated that he worked hard for his wealth, urging people not to tag him as a “money ritualist or murderer”.
He said, “I, Rahmon Adedoyin is not a murderer or money ritualist. God already blessed and enriched me since I was 26 years old and up till now that I am 65 years old.
“I have never killed anyone. I am a devout Muslim. Adegoke lodged at Hilton Hotel, Room 305. The hotel officials that lodged him did not pay any money in his name into the hotel’s account.
“There was also no record that he paid into the hotel’s WEMA Bank account. I don’t know how he was given a room without making payment into the official account of the company. I don’t know why they decided to receive the payment into their personal account.
“I was only informed that something like that happened at the Hilton Hotel when police started searching for Timothy. I know nothing about his death.
“When they (police) investigated and found where Timothy’s corpse was dumped, senior police officers checked his body and confirmed that no part of his body was missing. I did not ask them to get any of his body parts.
“I appeal to everyone to be patient and allow police to do their work and thorough investigation.
“I had my humble beginning from Ile-Ife. I started as a home lesson teacher, founded universal college of tech, a polytechnic and then a university.
“I never left Ile-Ife before God blessed me and made me rich. My wealth is pure. I am not spending blood money.”
Adedoyin and his worker, Adedeji Adesola, were earlier accused of being involved in the disappearance of Adegoke.
It was learnt that the hotel worker initially denied that Adegoke lodged in the hotel until evidence surfaced that he paid into Adesola’s account.
However, Osun State Police Command said the body of the deceased was intact and not mutilated as claimed in some reports.
Featuring during a programme monitored on Fresh FM, in Osogbo on Thursday, the command’s spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, also said Adedoyin was arrested after investigation revealed that the late Adegoke checked into the facility before he was declared missing.
Opalola, who also claimed the corpse of the deceased was exhumed in the presence of his family members, said the remains were later deposited at the morgue of Obafemi Awolowo University, Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife for autopsy.
