The owner of Hiltons Hotels and Resorts, Dr. Rahman Adedoyin, recorded a recent audio broadcast in the custody of the Osun State Police Command, the lawyer of the family of the late Timothy Adegoke has insisted.
The lawyer, Kayode Ajulo, who made this known in a chat with The PUNCH on Wednesday, said the broadcast was meant to influence public opinion and rouse sympathies of the suspect’s friends.
The PUNCH had earlier reported that in the audio recording, Adedoyin denied complicity in the death of Adegoke, a Masters’ student of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, who died in controversial circumstances in his hotel and was buried in a shallow grave without the knowledge of his family or the police.
Ajulo said an autopsy to determine the cause of the death of Adegoke was conducted on Monday and the report should be out in weeks.
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On the audio recording by Adedoyin, Ajulo said, “We, the law firm and the family representatives, raised an objection and we sent it to the IG (Inspector General) that we see it (recording) as more as preferential allowing him to record while in custody. Making a call is different from when you record and make a broadcast to the whole world as if you are the President of Nigeria on an occasion in the nation.
“We’ve asked the police why must they allow their police to be a studio. Though they may have come with their explanation that it was done before he was invited and detained but this is the same man that said he did not know anything until he was arrested and taken to custody. The question now is that: if actually, he has done the recording before, are we now saying he predetermined the whole thing before his arrest?
“We are not going to teach the police how to do its investigation but Nigerians are not fools, Nigerians are watching.”
When asked whether some influential people are trying to circumvent justice in the matter, the lawyer said, “It is so clear to the whole world. The person in question is influential and making that broadcast alone is enough to influence the whole world, his friends and his supporters. It is like a call to action. If it a common man that is being held, would he be accorded that treatment? Certainly not.”
Ajulo also said the legal team would continue to monitor the case and ensure justice is served, adding that the family has not asked that the matter be transferred to Abuja.
Meanwhile, the Osun State Police Command has said it is probing the release of an audio recording made by the prime suspect.
