No. It's the exact opposite. I wasn't willing to allow Hiyori executed in my stead. He did nothing wrong, and was chasing after Will Graham-- someone who did commit a crime, be it not one outlined by the rules of this game.

[. . . but at the time Ichigo and company were arguing that Hiyori was the culprit, he had no idea how to interject his thoughts, beyond a confession]

Meanwhile, Akechi volunteered to confess if suspicion came upon us, and any attempts I would have made to talk him out of it would have fallen on deaf ears. So. . . I let him have that choice.

[he didn't want Akechi to take the fall for it either, but. . . that one wasn't his call to make]