Published 1st Jun, 2023

By Tola Owoyele

Olugbade Adegoke, elder brother of Timothy Adegoke, the MBA student of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, who died under mysterious circumstances in November 2021, has expressed satisfaction over the death sentence a high court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, handed to the deceased’s killers.

Speaking to FIJ on Thursday, Adegoke said the court ruling had brought great relief and succour to the deceased’s family members.

“We, as a family, are quite satisfied with the outcome of the case,” said Adegoke.

“We would like to thank Nigerians for their unflinching support, and for ensuring that the matter involving my brother’s death was not swept under the carpet the moment it happened in 2021. They stood by us and made sure that justice was served in the end. For this, we are very grateful.”

Adegoke also touched on the judicial process that eventually led to the sentencing of Rahmon Adedoyin, the renowned Ile-Ife industrialist who had a hand in the student’s death.

“When the hearing began, many people had their doubts on whether justice would ever be served,” said Adegoke.

“The general belief was that Adedoyin, being an influential person in the society, would never be found guilty by the court. I don’t blame them for having that kind of belief. This is because in the past, the powerful and wealthy in the society have always escaped punishments whenever they commit crimes.

“We, however, thank God that our entire family got justice in the end. We thank the court and our legal representatives as well.”

The deceased’s brother also spoke about the situation of things within the Adegoke family since the student’s demise.

“Since my brother died, our lives as family members have never remained the same,” said Adegoke.

“Timothy was killed in November 2021, but it still feels as if the incident happened yesterday. The wound is still very fresh. Personally, I have continued to miss him on a daily basis.

“While he was alive, we would have lengthy phone conversations on a daily basis. He was the kind of person that cared about every family member’s well being. He was kind and generous. He was the breadwinner of the family.

“The vacuum his demise created is yet to be filled. He’s got a wife and three kids, and so far, ensuring that they are well catered for has been difficult. When they took Timothy from us, they took our family’s shining light.”

Timothy Adegoke, an Abuja-based chartered accountant, had travelled to Ile-Ife from his Abuja base on November 5, 2021, to write his MBA exams at the OAU Distance Learning Centre.

When friends and family members no longer heard from the student two days after he had confirmed his arrival in Ile-Ife to them, he was declared missing.

Later, Adegoke’s body was found in a shallow grave at a location very close to Hilton Hotel and Resorts, where he had been accommodated.

Hilton Hotel and Resorts belongs to Adedoyin, and investigations conducted by the police would later reveal that the business mogul was one of the student’s four murderers.

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