Former Osun State Governor, Chief Bisi Akande, has stirred fresh concerns over the unresolved assassination of former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige.
In a revealing interview with journalist Edmund Obilo in Ibadan, Akande suggested that former Oyo State Governor, Rashidi Ladoja, might have significant information about Ige’s murder.
Akande recalled that during the tenure of Lam Adesina as Oyo State Governor, legal action was initiated concerning Ige’s killing. However, when Ladoja assumed office, he withdrew the case.
“There are many things that die with people. I know Lam Adesina went to court over the matter, and I also know his successor, (Rashidi) Ladoja withdrew the case. Ask Ladoja, he would know more about Bola Ige’s death,” Akande stated.
Bola Ige, a senior member of the opposition Alliance for Democracy (AD), was appointed as Minister of Mines and Power in 1999 by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Later, he was reassigned as Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation in 2000. On December 23, 2001, he was assassinated at his home in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Akande noted that Ige had expressed regret about joining the Obasanjo administration, calling it a “kiss of death.” He further explained that Ige’s decision to serve in Obasanjo’s government was not personal but rather a collective agreement made by Afenifere and the Alliance for Democracy.
“We met under the leadership of (Ayo) Fasanmi in AD. We met under the leadership of Abraham Adesanya in Afenifere and we asked Bola Ige to join the government,” Akande said.
Reflecting on the circumstances surrounding Ige’s death, Akande firmly believed it was politically motivated.
“He was killed in anticipation of what he might become in the future. It was a state murder. The government killed him. The government can kill anybody,” he asserted.
Akande also alleged that the Obasanjo administration showed little interest in investigating the assassination. He suggested that Obasanjo may have lost trust in Ige after the minister contemplated resigning from his position.
Regarding an earlier attack on Ige before his murder—when his cap was publicly removed in a public gathering—Akande admitted he was unaware of the perpetrators.
“I wasn’t in the country at the time, but Ige told me about it. I advised him to focus on writing his memoir instead of attending social events. Unfortunately, he never got the chance,” he said.
