Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has stirred controversy following his administration’s decision to launch a coroner’s inquest into the death of his predecessor, Rotimi Akeredolu.
Akeredolu died on December 27, 2023, in Germany after a long battle with prostate cancer and leukemia.
But nearly seven months after his burial, the Aiyedatiwa-led government said it had received several petitions questioning the true cause of the former governor’s death.
In a statement on Monday, Ondo State attorney-general and commissioner for justice, Kayode Ajulo, said the state government was acting in response to demands from individuals and groups.
“Numerous petitions, including those from the late governor’s family members and professional colleagues, have been submitted to the Ministry of Justice, calling for a coroner’s inquest to investigate the cause of death,” he said.
Ajulo noted that some of the petitions originated from Akeredolu’s hometown in Owo and stressed that the request falls under the state’s Coroner’s Law.
“The Coroner’s Law mandates an inquest whenever there is reasonable cause to suspect that a person died in a violent, unnatural, or suspicious manner,” he stated.
He added: “It is the duty of the state government to investigate such deaths to ensure that the circumstances surrounding them are clear and not subject to public speculation or controversy.”
Ajulo also confirmed that some petitions made reference to the late governor’s wife, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, alleging she made “unguarded and unhinged conduct” during her husband’s illness and burial that has raised suspicions.
The announcement has triggered mixed reactions, with many accusing Governor Aiyedatiwa of politicising the late governor’s death.
Former minister of state for transportation, Ademola Adegoroye, cautioned the governor against the move, describing it as “unthinkable”.
“Let me advise Governor Aiyedatiwa not to walk into this booby trap, which could dent his administration. The Akeredolu family had stated clearly that their son died of prostate cancer and leukemia. So, what is the motive behind the coroner’s inquest?” he asked.
Also reacting, former Ondo State head of service, Ajose Kudehinbu, said the proposed inquest could disrupt the peace in the state.
“I advise the governor not to allow himself to be dragged into a needless controversy,” he said.
A lawyer, Sola Ajisafe, also faulted the planned probe, saying it could be seen as “an assault on the memory of the late governor”.
But Ajulo insisted that the government was simply following due process and acting in line with the law.
“Once such petitions are received, the Ministry of Justice must act accordingly. The law must be allowed to take its course,” he said.
Akeredolu governed Ondo State from 2017 until his death in 2023.
Following his death, Aiyedatiwa, who served as his deputy, was sworn in as governor and promised to complete the late governor’s projects and immortalise his name.
The coroner’s inquest is not the only move by the present administration that has raised eyebrows.
In June, the state government faced criticism after it demolished the Owo massacre cenotaph erected in memory of victims of the 2022 St Francis Catholic Church attack, a move many believed was an indirect attack on Akeredolu’s legacy.
Aiyedatiwa has, however, maintained that his administration is committed to transparency and justice.
As of press time, Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu has not publicly responded to the allegations or the planned inquest.
