By Our Reporter
The Ondo State Government’s decision to initiate a coroner’s inquest into the death of former Governor Rotimi Akeredolu has ignited controversy, drawing strong criticism from political leaders and legal experts.
The state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Kayode Ajulo (SAN), announced that petitions had been received from concerned individuals and groups calling for an investigation into Akeredolu’s death. Although Ajulo withheld the identities of the petitioners, he noted that some allegations pointed fingers at the late governor’s widow, Betty Akeredolu, and others.
This development has been widely condemned.
Former Minister of State for Transportation, Ademola Adegoroye, described the government’s endorsement of a possible exhumation as “unthinkable” and warned Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to tread carefully to maintain peace in the state.
Similarly, former Head of Service, Ajose Kudehinbu, questioned the need for the inquest, saying the cause of Akeredolu’s death had never been in dispute and urging the governor not to undermine the dignity of executive leadership.
Legal practitioner, Sola Ajisafe, also criticized the move, calling it unnecessary and politically motivated. He cautioned that it could cause divisions, especially in the late governor’s hometown of Owo.
Ajisafe further alleged that the Attorney-General’s reference to a past conflict involving Betty Akeredolu—specifically, the controversial demolition of a Cenotaph in Owo—suggested a personal bias behind the probe.
Late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu died in December 2023 after a battle with prostate cancer.