Bola Ige At 22: Just Like Yesterday? – Centre for Justice

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n a poignant reflection, today marks the 22nd anniversary of the tragic demise of Chief Ajibola James Idowu Ige, SAN, former Deputy Leader of Afenifere, Attorney-General of the Federation, and one-time Governor of the defunct Oyo State. The memory of his gruesome murder by unknown gunmen, on a Sunday night in his residence at old Bodija Estate, Ibadan, Oyo State, still echoes in the nation’s consciousness.

As the nation prepared for Christmas in 2001, the shocking incident cast a pall of mourning, occurring less than 48 hours before the festive celebration. Chief Bola Ige, at the time, was gearing up for a joyous journey to his hometown, Esa-Oke, Osun State.

The subsequent investigation, initially marked by political undertones, took a complicated turn. The Oyo State Government, under the leadership of then-Governor Alhaji Lam Adeshina, filed charges against some suspects. However, a significant shift occurred in 2003 when the new administration, led by Senator Rasheed Ladoja, declared a “nolle prosequi,” signaling the state’s withdrawal from the case.

Two decades later, the unresolved murder of the Cicero of Esa-Oke remains a haunting specter. The Bola Ige case stands as a symbolic reference for all unsolved criminal activities, resonating through the years amidst Nigeria’s struggles with insecurity, including genocide, arson, banditry, and kidnapping.

The question “who killed Bola Ige?” continues to linger, underscoring the challenges faced by the Nigerian justice system. The legacy of Chief Bola Ige lives on, serving as a reminder of the need for justice in a society grappling with security issues.

In Memoriam:
Signed by: Comrade AWA Bamiji.
Broadcast by: Bola Ige Centre for Justice, founded in December 2004, inside Oranmiyan Hall of Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos State. Dedicated to his Soulmate, Prof Wole Soyinka, who turns 90 on July 13, 2024.

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