…urges investigation and post-mortem on late governor’s body
Following the controversial video released by Arabinrin Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu, wife of the late former Governor of Ondo State, in reaction to the demolition of the Owo Memorial Park, tensions have escalated across parts of the state. In the video, she openly disparaged the revered Olowo of Owo, Oba Ajibade Ogunoye, referring to him as a “baby king.”
The footage, which has since gone viral, also included sharp verbal attacks on the incumbent Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa. The backlash has been swift and widespread, particularly in Owo. In a dramatic twist, traditionalists were seen at a location in the town invoking ancestral deities against the former First Lady, citing her “sacrilegious” remarks against the monarch and perceived desecration of tradition.
However, the Igbo community visited the palace of the Olowo in a show of solidarity and respect, formally disassociating themselves from Mrs. Akeredolu’s statements.
Amid the social unrest, a credible source revealed that some concerned groups have formally petitioned the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Kayode Ajulo, SAN urging the invocation of the Coroners Law of Ondo State to initiate an official inquest into the circumstances surrounding the death of the late Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN.
The petitioners reportedly claimed they feel compelled by recent revelations and Mrs. Akeredolu’s public conduct to demand a deeper investigation, including a post-mortem examination of the late Governor’s body, to determine the true cause of his death. They argued that the official report attributing his death to cancer-related complications may not reveal the full story
Citing allegations of irrational conduct, neglect, and emotional detachment, the groups referenced earlier claims that Mrs. Akeredolu, through acts of commission and omission, abandoned her husband during his final days and failed to be by his side in Germany during critical stages of his illness. Instead, they accused her of prioritising plans and raising funds for her 70th birthday celebration, while also engaging in political feuds across the state at the time.
According to the source, part of the petition read: “With what we are seeing now, it is no longer out of place to ask hard questions. A whole Governor of the state cannot just die without an investigation, particularly given the apparently suspicious conduct of his wife. The Coroners Law exists for moments like this. If the public is disturbed and there are reasonable concerns, then the law must be allowed to take its course.”
As of the time of filing this report, the Office of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice has yet to issue a formal statement regarding the alleged petitions, as a visit to the office revealed that the Attorney General is currently out of the country.
However, legal observers believe the matter may gain traction, especially as the government, through the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, has already addressed concerns surrounding the demolition, public sentiment, and the need to maintain institutional stability.
Meanwhile, calls for restraint have been issued by community leaders and civil society organisations, urging all parties to avoid inflammatory rhetoric and allow lawful processes to guide the next steps.