The Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, has debunked rumour circulating on social media that he plans to pardon businessman, Dr Rahmon Adedoyin, who was convicted of killing a masters student of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Timothy Adegoke.
Recall that in May 2023, the Chief Justice of Osun State, Justice Adepele Ojo sentenced Adedoyin to death by hanging for killing Adegoke, who died in his (Adedoyin’s) Hilton Honours Hotel, Ile-Ife, in November 2021.
Adedoyin, who also founded Oduduwa University, Ile-Ife, was sentenced to death alongside two of his staff, Adeniyi Aderogba and Oyetunde Kazeem.
However, rumour recently began circulating on social media of Governor Adeleke’s purported plan to pardon the convicted murderer, Dr Adedoyin.
In a Monday statement, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Olawale Rasheed, debunked the rumour.
“Reacting to the growing rumour of possible state pardon for the businessman, Governor Adeleke was quoted as noting that his administration never has and will never intervene in the judicial process, labelling those behind the fake news as public enemies.
“Those who concocted the fake news are evil-minded political operatives who are merely grasping at straws in their desperation to blackmail the state Governor.
“Governor Adeleke has not and will never contemplate exercising the prerogative of mercy or whatever the report calls it, on a matter under adjudication which has generated deep interest among local and global communities,” the statement read in part.
The statement emphasised that Governor Adeleke has no hidden plot on the said murder other than the public interest agenda to see culprits in the dastardly act face the full wrath of the law.
According to the statement, no member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is involved as counsel for any of the convicted individuals and the state judiciary must enjoy and exercise its full independence in the hearing and judgement of cases.
“It is uncharitable for political enemies and their paid agents to attempt any linkage between the convicted businessman and me.
“We affirm with all sense of responsibility that Governor Adeleke is not at any material time a friend or partner of the owner of Oduduwa University and did not interfere, intervene or manifest any untoward agenda in the arraignment, hearing and sentencing of the accused,” the statement further read.