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Owner Of Hotel Where OAU Master’s Student Died Finally Breaks Silence From Detention

Published

4 years ago

November 19, 2021

The owner of Hilton Hotel and Resort, Ile-Ife, Ramon Adedoyin, has denied involvement in the death of a Master’s student at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Timothy Adegoke.

Adedoyin, who is currently detained by Osun State Police Command over Adegoke’s death, noted that he did not connive with his workers or anyone to kill the student.

According to him, the first time he heard about Adegoke was when police declared the student missing.

The PUNCH had reported that Adegoke went to Ile-Ife to sit for an exam at the OAU Distance Learning Centre, Moro campus, when he was declared missing on November 7.

Adegoke’s body was discovered after some suspects, including workers at the hotel, were arrested by the police.

It was learnt that Adegoke had lodged in Hilton hotel located in Ile-Ife, Osun State between October 22 and November 5, 2021, before he was later declared missing.

The student was reported missing on Saturday, November 6 when he was not found at his exam hall and could not be reached by his wife and other family members.

The police later announced that the student had been found dead without giving details of how, when, and where he was found.

Adegoke was said to have lodged in the hotel on Friday, November 5 preceding his examinations scheduled for Saturday, November 6, and Sunday, November 7.

Adedoyin, who spoke in Yoruba, stated that he worked hard for his wealth, urging people not to tag him as a “money ritualist or murderer”.

In an audio message obtained by our correspondent and confirmed by one of his aides, the hotel owner appealed to the public to await police investigation on the matter.

He said, “I, Rahmon Adedoyin is not a murderer or money ritualist. God already blessed and enriched me since I was 26 years old and up till now that I am 65 years old.

“I have never killed anyone. I am a devout Muslim. Adegoke lodged at Hilton Hotel, Room 305. The hotel officials that lodged him did not pay any money in his name into the hotel’s account.

“There was also no record that he paid into the hotel’s WEMA Bank account. I don’t know how he was given a room without making payment into the official account of the company. I don’t know why they decided to receive the payment into their personal account.

“I was only informed that something like that happened at the Hilton Hotel when police started searching for Timothy. I know nothing about his death.

“When they (police) investigated and found where Timothy’s corpse was dumped, senior police officers checked his body and confirmed that no part of his body was missing. I did not ask them to get any of his body parts.

“I appeal to everyone to be patient and allow police to do their work and thorough investigation.

“I had my humble beginning from Ile-Ife. I started as a home lesson teacher, founded universal college of tech, a polytechnic and then university.

“I never left Ile-Ife before God blessed me and made me rich. My wealth is pure. I am not spending blood money.”

Adedoyin and his worker, Adedeji Adesola, were earlier accused of being involved in the disappearance of Adegoke.

It was learnt that the hotel worker initially denied that Adegoke lodged in the hotel until evidence surfaced that he paid into Adesola’s account.

However, Osun State Police Command on Thursday said no part of the deceased missed when the corpse was exhumed.
Featuring during a programme monitored on Fresh FM, in Osogbo on Thursday, the command’s spokesperson, Yemisi Opalola, also said Adedoyin was arrested after investigation revealed that the late Adegoke checked into the facility before he was declared missing.

Opalola, who also claimed the corpse of the deceased was exhumed in the presence of his family members, said the remains were later deposited at the morgue of Obafemi Awolowo University, Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife for autopsy.

The PUNCH had also reported that the hotel had been shut down.

Headline

‘Harry Potter’ Stars Banned From Driving

Published

20 minutes ago

July 16, 2025

Editor

Two stars of the “Harry Potter” films, including actress Emma Watson, were each banned from driving for six months Wednesday after being caught speeding in separate incidents.

Watson, 35, who played Hermione Granger, the friend of boy wizard Potter in the hugely popular movie franchise, was banned for driving at 38 miles (61 km) an hour in a 30-mile zone in southeastern Banbury last July.

Zoe Wanamaker, 76, who played Quidditch teacher Madame Hooch in “Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone”, was banned for six months for her offence.

She had been caught driving at 46 miles an hour in a 40-mile zone of the M4 motorway in southeastern Berkshire last August.

The cases were dealt with separately by a lower magistrates court in the town of High Wycombe.

Neither of the stars attended the hearings, at which they were each fined £1,044 ($1,400).

Watson, who was stopped while driving her blue Audi, has been studying at Oxford University. Her lawyer told the court that although she was a student “she is in a position to pay the fine”.

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10 Countries That Give Visas To Entrepreneurs

Published

35 minutes ago

July 16, 2025

Editor

Being an entrepreneur has its perks, and one of them includes the benefits of getting visas from top nations in the world. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development reports that over 40 countries now offer special startup visas to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses and expand globally.

A Start-Up Visa gives entrepreneurs from other countries the chance to build and grow their businesses in a new place, often in fields like tech, health, or clean energy. The idea is to bring in fresh talent and innovative ideas that can boost the local economy, create jobs, and solve real-world problems.

These visas usually last between 2 and 3 years and can open the door to permanent residency or even citizenship if the business does well and meets certain goals.

Here are 10 countries that offer visas to entrepreneurs.

Canada

Canada’s Start-Up Visa Program targets innovative entrepreneurs who can create jobs and compete globally. To qualify, applicants must secure support from a designated organisation like a venture capital fund and meet language and financial requirements. Successful applicants receive permanent residency from the start.

United Kingdom

The UK offers the Innovator founder visa, which replaced the old Start-Up and Innovator visas. It is aimed at entrepreneurs with innovative, scalable business ideas endorsed by an approved body. Applicants do not need investment funds upfront but must prove their idea is new and viable. It can lead to permanent residency after 3 years.

United States

While the US does not have a formal startup visa, the International Entrepreneur Parole program allows foreign founders of high-growth startups to stay in the US temporarily. Founders must show substantial funding from investors or government grants and the potential for job creation. It is not a direct path to a green card but can be a stepping stone.

Portugal

Portugal offers the Startup Visa for non-EU tech entrepreneurs who want to build innovative companies in the country. Applicants must be accepted into a certified incubator and show they plan to create jobs and meet minimum income or profit potential. It leads to residency with a path to citizenship after 5 years.

Singapore

Singapore’s EntrePass targets foreign founders launching venture-backed or innovative startups in sectors like tech, biotech, or sustainability. Applicants must be backed by a government-recognised incubator or VC. It is a renewable visa with the potential to apply for permanent residency through various local schemes.

Australia

Australia’s Business Innovation and Investment Visa Subclass 188 includes a Business Innovation Stream for start-ups. Applicants must show a viable business plan and access to funding. This visa can lead to permanent residency under the Subclass 888 visa.

Germany

Germany does not have a specific start-up visa, but entrepreneurs can apply for a self-employment visa if they present a strong business plan with economic benefit to Germany. Berlin especially is a hub for start-ups. After 3 years of successful business activity, permanent residency is possible.

Spain

Spain offers a startup visa under its Entrepreneur Law for non-EU founders with innovative business ideas. Applicants must prove the idea is of high economic interest and submit it to Spain’s trade and investment office for approval. It grants a residence permit and can lead to long-term stay and citizenship.

Ireland

Ireland’s Start-Up Entrepreneur Programme is for non-EU founders with high-potential start-ups, particularly in areas like tech or life sciences. Applicants must have a minimum of 50000 euros in funding and a scalable business idea. It offers a 2-year residency that can be extended and eventually lead to permanent residency.

France

France runs the French Tech Visa for Founders, which is part of its broader French Tech program. It targets foreign entrepreneurs with an innovative start-up idea backed by a recognised incubator or accelerator in France. It is a 4-year renewable residence permit and includes a fast track to bring family members too.

Headline

Meta Cracks Down On Fake Accounts, Deletes 10 Million Profiles

Published

2 hours ago

July 16, 2025

Editor

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has intensified its campaign against inauthentic behaviour on its platforms, announcing the removal of over 10 million fake profiles and about 500,000 spam accounts in the first six months of 2025.

The company said the move is part of a broader initiative to combat impersonation, fake engagement and content duplication — a strategy aimed at prioritising originality and ensuring that genuine creators are more visible across the platform.

Meta explained that accounts found to be reposting or recycling content without permission or meaningful edits will face consequences, including reduced reach and loss of access to monetisation tools.

“We’re making progress. In the first half of 2025, we took action on around 500,000 accounts engaged in spammy behaviour or fake engagement. We also removed about 10 million profiles impersonating large content producers,” Meta said in a blog post on Monday.

The company said repeated sharing of unoriginal content — including videos, photos, or text — diminishes the platform’s integrity by drowning out authentic voices and making it difficult for new creators to gain traction.

To support legitimate creators, Meta is rolling out new tools that automatically trace reposted content back to its original source. The company says this will help elevate authentic content and ensure credit goes to the rightful owners.

“Pages and profiles that post mostly original content tend to enjoy wider distribution across Facebook. Simply stitching clips together or adding a watermark will no longer count as meaningful editing. Content that provides real value and tells an authentic story is likely to perform better,” Meta stated.

The company also cautioned against uploading content that carries watermarks from other platforms, saying such posts could result in penalties like reduced distribution or removal of monetisation privileges.

As part of the latest update, Meta has introduced post-level insights on the Professional Dashboard, allowing creators to track the performance of individual posts. Creators can also check their Support Home screen to determine if their content or earnings face potential restrictions.

In a parallel move, Google’s YouTube has issued an update to its monetisation guidelines, announcing that content deemed mass-produced or excessively repetitive will no longer qualify for ad revenue.

The policy update initially caused confusion online, with some creators interpreting it as a clampdown on AI-generated content. However, YouTube later clarified that this is not the case.

“We welcome creators using AI tools to enhance their storytelling, and channels that use AI in their content remain eligible to monetise,” YouTube said in a statement.

Both tech giants say these changes are designed to raise content standards and strengthen protections for creators in an increasingly competitive digital ecosystem.