20 Years After Bola Ige: Police Can Restore Nigerians’ Confidence in Its Ability to Solve Murder With Timothy’s Case
By SHOLA OGUNDIPE
The family of the murdered student of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife, Timothy Adegoke Oludare, on Thursday asked the Nigerian Police to use the unraveling of the true killers of their son to restore the confidence of Nigerians in its ability to resolve murder cases.
They also told the family of the prime suspect in the case of Timothy, Ramon Adedoyin, to stop insulting the sensibilities of Nigerians with their concerns over the rights of their family members.
The family, in a statement made available to journalists on Thursday, said the anniversary of the dastardly killing of the late Minister of Justice and Minister of Justice, Chief James Ajibola Ige, comes to mind when issues of unresolved murders are discussed.
The statement was jointly signed by the lawyer to the family, Naim Adekilekun and the elder brother to the deceased, Gbade Adegoke.
“Chief Ige was killed on December 23, 2001. Today, it is exactly 20 years after the killing of Chief Ige at his Bodija, Ibadan residence. Sadly, 20 years after, the question still remains “Who Killed Bola Ige?”
To say the least, this is a sad commentary on the ability of Nigeria to protect her citizens and when arms to them, ensure that justice is done.
“This should be major source of worry to the police and the Nigerian justice system. In the last 20 years, all we have heard were plans to reopen the murder and bring the killers to book. It is disheartening that Nigeria is still looking for the killers.”
On the killing of Timothy, the family called on the Nigerian Police to ensure that its investigations are top notch and one that must necessarily lead to the unveiling of the killers.”
The family also advised the family of the prime suspect in the murder case to stop insulting Nigerians with their incessant calls for the release of the suspect.
“Adedoyin is squarely located in the vortex of this murder. It is sad that what borders his family is his fundamental human rights. It is also sad that the family has not uttered a word over the whereabouts of his son, Raheem. Who is enforcing the rights of the young promising Nigerian professional, Timothy, who was brutally killed in Adedoyin’s hotel? Who is enforcing the rights of the bereaved and parents of Timothy? Who is enforcing the rights of the deprived wife and children left behind by Timothy?” the statement queried.
The family said what should be paramount in the mind of every Nigerian is the speedy conclusion of investigations and the charging of those found culpable so they can have their days in court.
Our call for justice are based on hard and incontrovertible evidence. We call on Nigerians to note some of these as listed below:
- Adedoyin and his staff initially denied they ever saw Timothy even when Adedoyin spearheaded the doctoring of the hotel record which showed Timothy was at the hotel. The deceased also paid for 2 nights of accommodation and was given a receipt as was done by the hotel during his previous stays and until subsequent investigations showed he did not only stay at Adedoyin’s hotel he was killed there overnight.
- Adedoyin can not claim he did not know where his son, the Managing Director was on the night’s of Timothy’s killing and days before and after his son was declared wanted. To start with, we ask: Where was Adedoyin on the night when our son was being killed in his hotel? We will unravel where he is no matter how hard he tries to obfuscate his whereabouts. He should not be deceived.
- We found it condescending and wicked for Adedoyin’s contrary claim that Timothy was anything but a healthy guest who walked into his hotel with his own two legs carrying with him his, luggage, laptop, money, telephone and hopes and aspirations of writing and passing his MBA exams that weekend in addition to his qualification as a chartered accountant.
- The family was present with the police led the exhumation of Timothy’s body from the shallow roadside grave where Adedoyin and his staff buried him. Adedoyin’s hotel bedspread which Timothy’s body was wrapped in was soaked in blood as obvious to all present and as subsequently established by the autopsy. After all, contrary to an afterthought, compromised as well as prejudiced alternative autopsy narrative being peddled by Adedoyin’s doctor, all the pathologists who performed and witnessed Timothy’s autopsy, including the Head of Pathology Department of UNIOSUN agreed he died of trauma inflicted on him and subsequent loss of enormous blood.
- We have every reason to believe Adedoyin knew his son’s whereabouts on the night of Timothy’s murder; the days before his staff confessed to the disposal of Timothy’s body and the days before and after his son was declared wanted. Otherwise he would not hurriedly dismantle his hotel’s CCTV camera and playing hide and seek with the police regarding his call logs.
- We also take exceptions to his attempt to financially induce Timothy’s family by asking the elder brother if he would need financial help and offering fake and superficial sympathy just as he was initially denying the obvious fact that Timothy stayed and was murdered in his hotel.
- Timothy’s body is still in the morgue, his wounds and blood drained body crying for justice and closure and all Adedoyin wanted was to be released so that he can continue to pursue his efforts to subvert justice. Emphatically, Adedoyin is not innocent and we hold him and his staff squarely responsible for the murder of our son. We hope Nigeria’s law enforcement will be potent enough to give justice to Timothy and we members of his traumatised family.
- For the records, Nigeria people need to rise to the challenge of obtaining justice for our son and stand against any attempt by anyone in the investigating squad of the police, the legal department of the police, and the office of public prosecutor to aid and abet Adedoyin and his staff efforts to escape or water down the full consequences of the murder they committed.
e-signed:
Barrister Naim Adekilekun – Lawyer to the Family
Gbade Adegoke – Elder Brother to the Deceased
For Further Clarifications/Inquiries:
Naim Adekilekun – 08033985448
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