Nigerians have demanded and are anxiously awaiting the result of the autopsy being conducted on the Obafemi Awolowo University Masters student, Mr. Timothy Adegoke who was reportedly killed in his hotel room, at the Hilton Hotels and Resort, Ile-Ife, and subsequently buried in a shallow grave without informing the police.
The Police Command in Osun had said on Sunday that the autopsy on the post-graduate student of OAU, Ile-Ife would take place on Monday at the Osun State University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo.
The Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Yemisi Opalola had explained that the autopsy was shifted from weekend to Monday because the deceased family insisted on being part of the process, particularly the family doctor.
“The family has indicated that they will be available on Monday (tomorrow) for the conduct of the autopsy,” she said.
Earlier in an interview, Opalola said the deceased’s body was deposited at the Osun State University Teaching Hospital as against the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, which she mistakenly mentioned during a radio programme.
Olopade reiterated the position of the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Wale Olokode that, there was no sign of mutilation on the body of Adegoke when it was exhumed.
“No part of the deceased’s body was removed when it was exhumed in the presence of his family members, the police and the pathologist, as being rumoured.
“I will like to add that the deceased’s family members were equally present when the remains of the deceased were exhumed.”
“The police, a pathologist and family members of the deceased witnessed the exhumation of the body and the family members can attest to it that no body part of the deceased was missing,” she said.
Adegoke was reported to have traveled to Ile-Ife, Osun State to sit for an examination at OAU Distance Learning Centre, Moro in Ife North Local Government Area when he was declared missing on November 7.
The remains of the deceased were later reportedly evacuated from nearby forest by the police.
Six suspects, who are members of staff of hotel including the owner, Mr. Ramon Adedoyin, were arrested after investigation revealed that the late Adegoke actually checked into the facility before he was declared missing.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Wale Olokode insisted that the Chariman/owner of the hotel was arrested by the police, having discovered from the suspects confessions that he (Ramon Adedoyin) had been informed of the incident before the police discovered the corpse in the course of investigation.
According to him, “the suspects confessed that the MD of the Hotel, Mr Raheem Adedoyin (son of the Chairman, Ramon Adedoyin) led a team of three, including the Manager of the hotel to bury the deceased in a shallow grave when they discovered that the deceased died overnight in his hotel room.
“We were initially dealing with a case of kidnapping, that is why the case was referred to the anti-kidnapping team, until the team, through diligent investigation, discovered that the deceased actually lodged in the hotel. The police later traced the dead body to a bush where he was buried.”
Olokode said the suspect confessed that the MD instructed every member of staff to keep sealed lips about the incident as they disposed the body, until the police unearthed the truth that late Adegoke was not kidnapped after all, but died in the hotel.
