By Peter Omopo
Akure, July 2, 2025 — Tension is brewing across Ondo State following renewed calls for a formal investigation into the death of former Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, who passed away on December 27, 2023, in Germany after a prolonged illness.
The Ondo State Government confirmed on Monday that it had received multiple petitions from residents of Owo, the late governor’s hometown, as well as from professional organisations, requesting a coroner’s inquest into the circumstances surrounding Akeredolu’s demise.
Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Kayode Ajulo, acknowledged the mounting pressure in a statement, noting that under the Coroners Law of Ondo State, citizens have a legal right to seek clarity when suspicions arise or questions remain unanswered regarding a death.
“We have received petitions from groups both within and outside the state, including professional bodies and even from the late governor’s hometown,” Ajulo stated. “Let me be clear: due process will be followed. The law is there to serve the people and ensure that truth and justice prevail.”
The legal chief emphasized that the Attorney General’s office is obligated to act on such petitions without bias or sentiment, provided the demands fall within the provisions of the law.
However, the calls for a probe have triggered mixed reactions, with some prominent indigenes warning Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa—Akeredolu’s former deputy and current governor—not to interfere or politicize the matter.
Governor Aiyedatiwa was sworn in as the substantive governor following Akeredolu’s death, a transition that some allege has fueled suspicion and political undertones around the renewed demand for an inquiry.
As the government mulls its next steps, observers say the outcome of the petitions and any potential inquest could have significant implications for the state’s political climate.
