The Court of Appeal in Akure, Ondo State, has upheld the death sentence of Ramon Adedoyin, a well-known businessman and hotelier, for his role in the murder of Timothy Adegoke, a former postgraduate student at Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State.

Delivering its judgment on Thursday, the appellate court affirmed the earlier ruling of the Osun State High Court, which sentenced Adedoyin to death.

"The judgment of the High Court of Osun State stands. Adedoyin's appeal is dismissed in part," the court declared.

However, the Court of Appeal overturned some elements of the lower court's orders, including the forfeiture of the Hilton Hotel and the directive requiring Adedoyin to fund the education of Adegoke's children. The court ruled that such penalties were beyond its jurisdiction, as they fell outside statutory provisions.

Adegoke's death, reported in November 2021, followed his disappearance after checking into the Hilton Honours Hotel in Ile-Ife, Osun State. Adegoke, who had traveled from Abuja for an examination at a distance learning center in Moro, Osun State, was found dead days after being reported missing.

The investigation into his death implicated Adedoyin and others, leading to their conviction for conspiracy and murder in May 2023. The Osun State High Court subsequently sentenced Adedoyin and the co-defendants to death.