Magdalene Chiefuna, the receptionist on duty on the day the late Masters student of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Timothy Adegoke, was discovered dead inside Hilton Hotel, Ile-Ife, Osun State, on Wednesday said she and others took an oath of secrecy to protect the hotel from the adverse effect of the incident.
At the resumed hearing of the matter at the Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo, Chiefuna, under cross-examination by the lead prosecution counsel, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, also said she did not know that the deceased was dumped until when she got to police station six days after.
While in the dock during the court session that lasted about seven hours, Chiefuna said she only heard the deceased had paid for the room when she resumed duty on November 6, but never saw him.
She said the following day, when the lodger was not seen at the reception area, she took a spare key to Room 305 and opened the door, where she met Adegoke in the room lying face up and wrapped in duvet exposing only his face on the bed.
Chiefuna further said she initially thought Adegoke was sleeping, but became scared when she shook his leg and she immediately informed the manager on duty, Adeniyi Aderogba, of her discovery.
She added that after Aderogba had also gone into the room to check Adegoke, he declared that the lodger was dead.
She said the managing director of the hotel, Roheem Adedoyin, after the body had been discovered dead, arrived the hotel and was told what happened.
According to her, Adeniyi later took her and the receptionist that was to take over duty, Esther Asigor, to the MD’s office, where Adedoyin administered an oath of confidentiality on them, in order not to disclose what had transpired.
Meanwhile, also at the continuation of the trial, a Consultant Pathologist, Prof. Segun Ojo, has said it was impossible to determine the cause of the death of the late student.
Prof. Ojo who is currently working with the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Osun state was the first prosecution witness called by the defence.
He was being led in evidence by counsel to the 2nd, 4th and 5th defendant.
The pathologist said he joined a team comprising seven other professionals after the Head of Department, Prof. Akin Komolafe invited Prof. E. Afolayan to participate in the autopsy examination on the corpse of late Adegoke.
Professor Ojo told the court that, during the examination he could not decide the cause of death, adding that there were no marks of violence on the corpse of the deceased.
He said he submitted his report to the office of Osun State Commissioner of Police.
Recall that the Chairman of Hilton Hotel, Ile-Ife, Dr Rahmon Adedoyin and six others, are charged with the murder of Timothy Adegoke.
The six defendants are — Magdalene Chiefuna, Adeniyi Aderogba, Oluwole Florence, Oyetunde Kazeem, Adebayo Kunle and Adedeji Adesola respectively.
Meanwhile, the defendants had earlier pleaded not guilty to the 11-count charge bordering on conspiracy, murder, attempted felony, unlawful interference with a dead body, altering and intent to destroy evidence.
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