BOLA IGE @ 22: JUST LIKE YESTERDAY?
By Bola Ige Centre for Justice
The Bola Ige Centre for Justice and Pro–democracy group, Coalition for a Better Nigeria has decried the inability of Nigerian security agencies to arrest and prosecute killers of the Deputy leader of the Yoruba pan social cultural group, Afenifere and Minister of Justice, Chief Ajibola Ige, 22 years after.
Chief Bola Ige was gruesomely murdered by unknown gunmen, right inside his House in the old Bodija Estate, Ibadan, Oyo State, on 23 December 2001.
The National Coordinator/Convener of both groups, Comrade Awa Bamiji in a statement on Saturday in Lagos said that the group would continue to mourn Ige.
Bamiji said: “The late Deputy Leader of Afenifere, former Attorney – General of Federation and Minister of Justice, who was also former Governor of defunct Oyo State, now Oyo and Osun States, between 1979 and 1983, Chief Ajibola James Idowu Ige, SAN, clocks 22 years today, Saturday, 23 December, 2023, after he was gruesomely murdered by unknown gunmen, right inside his House in old Bodija Estate, Ibadan, Oyo State, on that Sunday night, throwing the entire Nation into mourning mood, less than 48 hours to the Xmas Celebration.
“This happened when he was equally preparing to embark of festive travelling to his hometown, Esa – Oke, Osun State.
“The murder case against some Suspects was filled by Oyo State Government, led by former Governor, Alhaji Lam Adeshina of Alliance for Democracy (AD), as it was earlier rumoured that the Bola Ige’s assassination was politically motivated, immediately after former Governor of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Rasheed Ladoja, took over power in 2003, he entered “nueli prosequi”, meaning, Oyo State has no interest again in this murder case of its assassinated former Governor and sitting Minister of Justice and Attorney – General of the Federation, bringing the ongoing investigation in the Court to an abrupt end.”
He said that two decades had gone, and it seemed like yesterday when the late politician was murdered.
“For Decades to come, the most celebrated murder case in Africa, which is that of Cicero of Esa – Oke, Chief Bola Ige, SAN, will still be ringing bell in our hears as a reference point of all unresolved murder cases, genocide, arson, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of insecurity in Nigeria and the question, “who killed Bola Ige?”, will continue to be relevant.”
Bola Ige Centre for Justice founded December 2004 inside Oranmiyan Hall of Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos State, and dedicated to his Soulmate, Prof Wole Soyinka, who would clock 90 by 13 July, 2024.
