Published 11th Jun, 2023

By Tola Owoyele

On May 30, a high court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, sentenced Rahmon Adedoyin, the owner of Hilton Hotel and Resorts, to death by hanging.

Apart from Adedoyin, Adeniyi Aderogba and Oyetunde Kazeem, two other hotel staff, were also sentenced to death for the murder of Timothy Adegoke, a master’s student at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State.

Roheem, Adedoyin’s son, who also had a hand in Adegoke’s death, has been identified as the fourth murderer. He is, however, still at large.

Before Adegoke’s death, and apart from being a renowned multibillionaire and industrialist in southwestern Nigeria, Adedoyin was the Maye of Yorubaland.

He got the chieftaincy title from Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, the late Alaafin of Oyo, for his growing influence and business strides.

When the OAU’s student’s killing became a matter of national interest in 2021, and because his corpse had been mutilated when it was discovered, many believed the incident was a case of ritual killing carried out by the wealthy and powerful in the society.

Around the same period, however, Iyabo Adedoyin, wife of the accused businessman, was quick to deny the allegations of ritual killing made against her husband.

She went on to describe the billionaire as a patriotic Nigerian and not an evildoer.

Despite Iyabo’s explanation, the question most Nigerians have continued to ask is: If indeed the student had not been killed for ritual purposes, why did Adedoyin, his son and his employees hurriedly bury him without making any attempt to inform the police?

Ritual killing or not, Rahmon Adedoyin was quite popular for his philanthropic gestures as the Maye of Yorubaland.

In the wake of the May 30 judgement, FIJ uncovered House of Maye, a Facebook page dedicated to showcasing Adedoyin’s acts of philanthropy as the Maye of Yorubaland.

Below are the donations the billionaire made between July and September, 2021, and publicised by the page.

N50,000 DONATION TO BOOK AUTHOR

Facebook posts announcing donation made by House of Maye

On July 5, 2021, the page posted how Adedoyin gifted a cheque of N50,000 to a book author to support a book launch.

“Today, Africa’s most valued educationist and philanthropist HRE Maye Dr Ramon Adedoyin gifted a cheque gift of N50,000 to (author’s name omitted) for his book launch,” read the post.

“Someone out there is waiting for you for a lifetime [sic]. You cannot afford to fail them; failing them is failing God.”

N500,000 DONATION TO REALITY TV SHOW

In the same month, Adedoyin also donated N500,000 to organisers of a reality TV show in Osun State.

“We at HOUSE OF MAYE OF YORUBALAND are proud to be partner [sic]and co-sponsors of the upcoming beauty pageant show that is promoting our culture and heritage in Nigeria at large [sic],” the post read.

“From our chairman, Africa’s most valued educationist and philanthropist HRE Maye Dr Ramon Adedoyin support the upcoming rebirth edition with the sum of 500k naira [sic].”

DISTRIBUTION OF 520 RAMS DURING 2021 EID-EL KABIR

Facebook posts announcing donations made by House of Maye

On July 18, 2021, the same page announced the distribution of 520 rams to Muslim faithful across the southwest of Nigeria to mark Eid-el Kabir celebration during the period.

“Africa’s biggest educationist and valued philanthropist HRE Maye Dr Ramon Adedoyin gives out rams to those who cannot afford to buy one because of the high cost of ram in the market, so as to ease in Eid El’Kabir celebration [sic],” House of Maye posted.

“Earlier today, God’s chosen son, Maye of Yorubaland ordered for the distribution of 520 rams to Muslims across Yorubaland. This is to help people in Sallah celebration as it draws near [sic].

“He, however, describe this gesture as part of his efforts to put smiles on people’s faces [sic]. He also urged the people to imbibe the spirit of brotherhood and peaceful co-existence in their relationship during the Sallah celebration and beyond [sic].

“He lastly, enjoined them to be Happy no matter the situation [sic].”

DONATION OF 600 MATTRESSES TO THE ELDERLY

In August of the same year, it was announced that Adedoyin had donated 600 brand new mattresses to elderly men and women in Moro village, Ile-Ife, Osun State.

“Today we made donation of 600 brand new Mouka foams to aged women and men across Moro village,” a post from the page read.

“100 per cent powered by Africa’s most celebrated Philanthropist HRE Maye Dr Ramon Adedoyin, Maye of Yorubaland.”

ROHEEM ADEDOYIN WAS NOT LEFT OUT

In September 2021, Roheem, the son of the billionaire who is now at large, was also celebrated by the page.

“Prince Roheem Adegoke Adedoyin is an entrepreneur, son of Ile-Ife Multibillionaire HRE Maye Abdulraman Adedoyin and Prophetess Iyabo Adedoyin,” the post read.

“He is the CEO/MD Focus Lounge (Bar and Restaurants), Hilton Hotels Ltd.

“The Young Roheem Adedoyin’s name blows out during the Corona pandemic.

“Prince Roheem and his team all went out there helping with foods and other relief packages to support the less privileged affected by the global shutdown.

“The young prince understands that the majority of Nigerians are living from hand to mouth and that is why he was there to help in whatever capacity he can.

“Aside from entertaining business, young Prince Roheem is also engaged in digital investment business.”

AN IMAGE-MAKING PLOT

While a few sources, who spoke to FIJ on the incident, simply saw Adedoyin’s acts of philanthropy as well-meaning, a few others saw the gestures as an image-making ploy devised by a man who believed he could someday become the next Ooni, despite missing out on the chance in 2015.

Yet another few saw the acts as Adedoyin’s way of covering his tracks whenever heinous crimes are committed, and just so he could continue to enjoy the goodwill and a sizeable cult following from the people around him.

Whether good or bad, we may never know the what Adedoyin’s real motives were.

After all, Gilbert Keith Chesterton, a 19th century philosopher and writer, once described philanthropy as “the mark of a wicked man”.

“Philanthropy, as far as I can see, is rapidly becoming the mark of a wicked man,” said Chesterton.

“It becomes wicked when the love of man destroys the lives of men.”

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