Justice Adepele Ojo of an Osun State High Court has fixed Wednesday, March 30, for ruling on a no-case submission filed by the owner of Hiltons Hotel Ile-Ife, Dr Ramon Adedoyin and six of his staff, who were arraigned in connection with the death of OAU Master’s student, Timothy Adegoke.
At the resumed hearing of the matter on Friday, the prosecution and defence counsel adopted their final written addresses in favour and against the no-case submission already filed by the defendants.
In his submission, Yusuf Ali, SAN, who is the counsel to the first defendant, Adedoyin, said the prosecution failed to bring before the court legally admissible evidence to prove any of the five-count pressed against his client.
According to him, all the eight witnesses called by the prosecution did not give any evidence admissible in law to connect Adedoyin to any of the offences he was charged with.
Ali also said regardless of the opinion expressed on social media regarding the matter, the court would have to decide the case based on facts before it and not on suspicion.
Counsel to the second, fourth and fifth defendants, Muritala Abudlrosheed, SAN, while addressing the court, also said his clients did not have any interaction with the deceased until he was discovered dead.
He further submitted that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case linking the three defendants to the death of the deceased.
In their separate but similar submissions, counsel to the third, sixth and seventh defendants; Rowland Otaru, SAN and Okon Ita, adopted and relied on their no-case submission addresses filed for their clients.
But responding to the no-case submission for Adedoyin, the prosecution counsel, M. Omosun, said he has established a prima facie case against the hotel owner.
Omosun insisted that no matter how light the evidence linking an accused to a charge, he or she ought to enter a defence and explain the roles played before the court.
Justice Ojo subsequently adjourned the matter till Wednesday, March 30, for the ruling.
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