Akeredolu’s widow, Betty, indicted in ex-governor’s death, Ondo govt to initiate probe

• Ajulo stated that the petitioner — whose identity he did not divulge — fingered the widow of the late Akeredolu, Betty, and others in the demise of the former governor

Circumstances surrounding the death of former Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, will be investigated, the state government has disclosed.

The state government, through the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Kayode Ajulo, made the disclosure on Tuesday.

The move to launch a coroner’s inquest into the cause of the former governor’s death is coming eighteen months after his demise.

According to Ajulo, the move to investigate the cause of the ex-governor’s death was necessitated by a request from some concerned citizens of the state who submitted a petition to the Ministry of Justice.

Ajulo stated that the petitioner — whose identity he did not divulge — fingered the widow of the late Akeredolu, Betty, and others in the demise of the former governor.

Recall that Akeredolu died in December 2023 after a hard-fought battle with prostate cancer, an illness that blighted his tenure as governor of the Sunshine State.

He stressed that the coroner’s law in the state was promulgated to address public concerns surrounding deaths considered unnatural or controversial.

Ajulo explained that under the law, any citizen or group who reasonably suspects foul play or has doubts about a person’s death has the legal right to demand a coroner’s inquest.

Ajulo, who stated that the law would be allowed to take its course without bias or sentiment, said, “It is not out of place for citizens to demand its invocation when there are legitimate concerns.”

The chief legal officer of the state revealed that petitions over the request were received from within and outside the state, including professional bodies, as well as from the late former governor’s hometown.

Ajulo maintained that the petitioners raised concerns over what they described as the “unguarded and unhinged conduct” of the former First Lady, with the claim that her actions cast doubt on the official narrative that the former governor died from cancer-related complications.