Adedeji Adesola, the receptionist working that day at the Hilton Hotel in Ile-Ife, Osun State, when former masters student Timothy Adegoke from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, arrived at the establishment, received a two-year prison sentence.
Adepele Ojo, the chief judge of Osun State, delivered the verdict at the court’s session on Wednesday.
In the courtroom on Tuesday, the judge had found her guilty of conspiring to fake evidence and hide the fact that the deceased had stayed there before he passed away.
However, the judge postponed her sentencing until Wednesday as a result of the prosecution and her attorney, Okon Ita and Okon Ita, respectively, begging for the court’s clemency.
The hotel owner, Dr. Ramon Adedoyin, and two of his staff, Adeniyi Aderogba and Oyetunde Kazeem had been earlier sentenced to death by hanging.
The court found them culpable in the death of Adegoke, who arrived at the hotel on November 5, 2021, but was later found buried in a shallow grave along Ife-Ede, by police detectives, days after he has declared missing.
Both Adesina and Adesola’s counsel had urged the court to consider the age of the defendant and the circumstances under which she acted and treat her case with leniency.
Justice Ojo in her judgement, said she took notice of the plead for leniency for the defendant and the provision of Section 411 of the Constitution.
She said, “I have considered the passionate plea of the 7th defendant and the submission of the prosecution on the need to temper justice with mercy. I have observed and considered the sober disposition of the 7th defendant in court throughout the trial.
“I am equally mindful of the circumstances surrounding the case of the 7th defendant. I am not unmindful of the provisions of the Section 411 2(b) of the law. I hereby sentence you Adedeji Adesola to 2 years imprisonment starting from the first day of your arrest.”