OAU Student’s Death: Lodgers’ Record Doctored, Says Receptionist

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A Nigerian woman, Adesola Adedeji, who happens to be the receptionist on duty at Hilton Hotels, Ile-Ife, on November 5, 2021, where the late Timothy Adegoke, a master’s student of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, reportedly lodged, has spoken up in court.

The woman, on Friday, told an Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo that the records she submitted after completing her shift for the day were tampered with.

Adedeji also said the son of the owner of the hotel, Mr Roheem Adedoyin, gave her a blank receipt to fill in substitution for a missing name, adding that she only knew about Adegoke’s death when she was arrested by the police.

The receptionist who was the seventh defendant in the ongoing trial of the hotel owner, Dr Ramon Adedoyin, and six of his workers, while being led by her counsel, Okon Ita, also said that the initial record she submitted to the hotel auditor had 16 lodgers, with the late Adegoke being the first guest.

She however said the record book given to her at the police station had only 15 names, adding that the book was not prepared by her.

She also said she further confirmed the disparities after she checked a snapshot of the records of the account that she kept on her phone.

Adedeji further told the court that she showed the investigating police officer in charge of the case her phone and told him about the differences she observed in the two documents.

Responding to questions from the prosecution counsel, Mr Femi Falana, the witness said both the hotel owner and his son came to the premises on the day Adegoke lodged.

She also said she knew when Adedoyin, the hotel owner, left the premises but didn’t know when his son departed.

The defendant also said the name given to her to be filled on the blank receipt by Roheem was not among the guests that were lodged while she was on duty.

The Osun Chief Judge, Adepele Ojo, before the case was adjourned till Thursday, February 2, 2023, for the continuation of hearing, told Adedoyin’s counsel, K. Eleja, SAN, to ensure that his witnesses attended the next court sitting.