*Debo Akande, SAN, assassination too must be investigated – Cousin
*Says his Uncle lost his life for appearing for Bola Ige family
*Bola Ige’s murder blamed on politicians, his probe of power sector
…How Ige’s son reacted to Buhari’s order
“Let them investigate the death of Chief Bola Ige. My uncle, Chief Debo Akande SAN, was a lawyer to Chief Bola’s family during the kangaroo trial of Omisore. My uncle lost his life for appearing for Bola Ige.”
On Monday July 18, 2016, Nigerians, particularly of South West and South South parts of the country, had a sigh of relief when President Muhammadu Buhari ordered the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Kpotun Idris, who was then acting, to re-open investigation into the unresolved murder of late Afenifere leader and Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Bola Ige.
The President Buhari’s order also extended to unravelling the killers of ex-Deputy National Chairman, South-South, of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Aminasoari Dikibo, and fish out the perpetrators.
Murder of Dikibo was blamed on issues he had with powers that be within his party, which was the only truly nationally spread power at the time and PDP had no challenge from any of the two other parties; the Alliance for Democracy (AD) and All People’s Party (APP).
The killing of the two personalities caused national outrage, with Nigerians calling on the government of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to fish out the killers who have still not been found.
Nigerians, who have spoken to The DEFENDER asking how far about that presidential order two years ago, are asking questions if not that the cases are being swept under the carpets once again.
A particular member of Yoruba land, Mr. Odularu Olugbenga, perhaps still talking about the 2016 order for the re-opening of the investigation by the then Acting IGP now substantive IGP, wrote on its Facebook social media on Saturday, “I understand that death of Bola Ige is to be re-investigated. Thank God former IGP is still alive. Somebody has touched the tiger by its tail. PMB has deployed his political machine gun on sustained fire role. The healing of our land of injustices has begun. No peace for the wicked.”
This post by Olugbenga has sparked the quick recovery from slumber of some of the respondents who accused the media of aiding the slowing down on the presidential order as they said the Nigerian journalists have conspired not to talk about it so that the matter will be forgotten.
Supporting the reminder, some other Nigerians on the Odularu Olugbenga post said it was going to mean that Nigeria is now on the mission for re-awakening under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
One of them, Idowu Ayo said, “Let the good work continue. Some evil ones will leave our country for us or go to jail, life imprisonment awaiting them. I’m watching.”
Another Nigerian, Aderonmu Yekini said, “Let them investigate the death of Chief Bola Ige my uncle Chief Debo Akande SAN was a lawyer to Chief Bola’s family during the kangaroo trial of Omisore. My uncle lost his life for appearing for Bola Ige.
Recall that Chief Bola Ige was shot dead in his bedroom in Bodija, Ibadan, home at about 9pm on December 23, 2001, after he arrived Ibadan from Lagos at about 8.30pm.
His security details were said to have sought permission from the late Attorney General to go and eat before the incident occurred.
The gunmen, who were said to have been waiting in the vicinity, then stormed the house and tied up family members.
One of the gunmen reportedly pointed a gun at a family member and asked him to lead them upstairs to Chief Bola Ige’s room.
They allegedly moved the wife and his son to an adjourning room, locked them up before shooting their target in the chest.
The DEFENDER gathered from sources that towards unearthing the perpetrators of these unresolved murders, the Acting Inspector General of Police had instituted a high powered investigation team, headed by an Assistant Inspector General of Police, to crack the case.
Following the death of the late Bola Ige, several unsubstantiated allegations were made against several politicians and interest groups, with some even saying the ‘Cicero’, as he was fondly called, was killed to halt the rise in his political profile, while others said it had to do with his impending probe of the corruption in the power sector of the nation’s economy.
Aminasoari Dikibo’s assassination
On the part of Chief Aminasoari Dikibo, the late PDP Deputy National Chairman was said to be returning to his base from Abuja after a meeting when he was waylaid by suspected assassins on entering Delta State. He was killed near Asaba on October 22, 2004 barely three years after the assassination of Bola Ige during the PDP administration of Olusegun Obasanjo.
Dikibo’s assassination at the time was alleged to have been caused by certain disagreements with the powers that be in his political party, prior to the general elections.
According to a Vanguard report, the fact that the killers and their sponsors were still prowling the streets without arrest and prosecution for crimes against humanity was a dangerous trend which, if not addressed, might lead to killing of more political leaders either now or in the future.
How Ige’s son reacted to Buhari’s order
Reacting to the President Buhari’s order for the re-opening of the case two years ago, son of the late Cicero, Architect Muyiwa Ige, said that it would be glorious, if the family could get justice 16 years after.
Muyiwa, who could not hide his happiness, said President Buhari did not disappoint him, saying the matter was now in the right direction.
He said: “I knew right from the advent of the administration of President Buhari that the matter would be resurrected. The President is in the right direction. To God be the glory. It’s a new day; we are happy, we will get justice after 16 years.
“We are happy that all those who murdered our father, including the star witness, will be brought to justice. It’s good news.”
