The President of the Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria [FTAN], Nkereuwem Onung has welcomed the swift and timely way the Osun State Judiciary has concluded the murder case of a master’s student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Timothy Adegoke in November 2021 in a hotel.
Onung stated this in a statement issued by the federation following An Osun State High Court judgement that passed a death sentence on an Ile-Ife based hotel owner, Ramon Adedoyin, and prison terms for two of his staff.
He noted that the judgement though won’t bring the victim back to life, but a big warning to unscrupulous individuals and groups that may want to perpetuate criminality and hiding under our beautiful industry.
Onung said the federation welcomed the State Chief Judge, Adepele Ojo ruling by sentencing on Tuesday 30th of May 2023 of Dr Ramon Adedoyin, and others guilty.
Adedoyin and other six defendants were arrested in connection with the death of a master’s student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Timothy Adegoke.
However, the court freed the second defendant, Magdalene Chiefuna; the fourth defendant, Oluwole Lawrence, and the sixth defendant, Adebayo Kunle, having found them blameless in the circumstances surrounding the death of Adegoke, while the court delayed its verdict on the seventh defendant, Adedeji Adesola, who was the receptionist on duty on the day the late Adegoke arrived in the hotel.
It would be recalled that the sudden disappearance of Adegoke became a national story in the media in mid -November 2021 after the deceased, who left Abuja for Ile-Ife on November 5, 2021, to sit for an examination could not be reached.
The federation called on state governments across the country to strengthen their tourism ministries and boards to enable them in conjunction with the private sector in ensuring hotels, motels and ins are properly registered and as such constantly reviewed to stamp out quackery from the sector.