By Erewunmi Peace

More than two decades after the tragic assassination of former Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Bola Ige, fresh conversations have resurfaced about the events that led to his death. This time, it’s his daughter, Funso Adegbola, refuting long-standing claims that her father sent his guards out to eat on the night he was murdered.

According to reports and past court testimonies, Bola Ige’s security team claimed that he had instructed them to leave the house temporarily to find food, returning later in the night. This absence has been widely believed to have contributed to the ease with which the assassins gained access to the home.

However, in a recent statement, Adegbola challenged this narrative, insisting that there was food available in the house and that her father had no reason to send anyone out. She maintained that her father regularly ensured provisions were made for the household and staff.

“The statement spread around was that Baba doesn’t feed his personal staff from his kitchen. That is false. There was food at home. He didn’t send anyone out,” Adegbola said.

Her comments contradict the testimony of the family steward, Amos Akan, who had told the court in 2001 that the guards were given permission to go out for food, with instructions to return by 9 p.m.

The contradiction has reignited public interest in the unresolved circumstances surrounding the high-profile murder, which occurred on December 23, 2001, in his Ibadan residence.

Despite various investigations, the true killers of Bola Ige remain unknown, and many Nigerians still believe justice has not been served.

Context:
Bola Ige, a senior advocate of Nigeria and political icon, was a minister in President Olusegun Obasanjo’s cabinet. His assassination shocked the nation and remains one of Nigeria’s most controversial unsolved murders.

As debates continue, the contrast between court records and the family’s version keeps the mystery alive—reminding Nigerians that justice delayed remains justice denied.