By Awa Bamiji
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 capital.
On that Sunday night, the entire Nation were thrown into mourning mood, less than 48 hours to the Christmas 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 filed by Oyo State Government, led by former Governor, late Alhaji Lam Adesina 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.
Two decades gone, it still seems like yesterday. 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 ears 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.
May he continue to rest till the resurrection morning.
Cicero lives on!
Broadcast by: Bola Ige Centre for Justice
