An Osun State high court on Wednesday sentenced one Adedeji Adesola, the receptionist on duty at Hilton Hotel, Ile-Ife, the day Timothy Adegoke arrived at the facility to two years imprisonment.
Adesola’s sentence was pronounced at the sitting of the court on Wednesday by Osun State Chief Judge, Adepele Ojo.
She was pronounced guilty of conspiracy to fabricate evidence and conceal the fact that the deceased lodged at the facility before he died.
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Adegoke a Business Administration (MBA) student, traveled from Abuja to Ile-Ife to write his examination. He was said to have lodged in the hotel, where he hoped to stay out the period of the examinations. But was declared missing by the police on 7 November 2021.
His body was later found buried in a shallow grave along Ife-Ede, by police detectives, days after he was declared missing.
The hotel owner, Dr. Ramon Adedoyin, and two of his staff, Adeniyi Aderogba and Oyetunde Kazeem had been earlier sentenced to death by hanging.
They court found them culpable in the death of Adegoke.
Adesola was said to be the receptionist on duty the day Adegoke arrived at the hotel.
The presiding judge, Justice Adepele Ojo, had on Tuesday, found Adesola guilty of doctoring the hotel receipt issued to the deceased, fabricating another and concealing of evidence charged against her.
However delivering judgment, Justice Ojo said she took notice of the plead for leniency for the defendant and the provision of Section 411 of the Constitution.
She said, “I have considered the passionate plea of the 7th defendant and the submission of the prosecution on the need to temper justice with mercy. I have observed and considered the sober disposition of the 7th defendant in court throughout the trial.
“I am equally mindful of the circumstances surrounding the case of the 7th defendant. I am not unmindful of the provisions of the Section 411 2(b) of the law. I hereby sentence you Adedeji Adesola to 2 years imprisonment starting from the first day of your arrest.”