Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka voiced serious apprehensions about the recent remanding of former Minister of Power and Steel, Olu Agunloye, in Kuje Correctional Centre. Agunloye is currently awaiting trial on corruption charges.
Soyinka, a distinguished figure in Nigerian literature and a vocal advocate for justice, drew a troubling parallel between Agunloye’s situation and the tragic 2001 assassination of former Minister of Justice, Bola Ige. Agunloye, who pleaded not guilty to the charges, was presented before the Federal High Court earlier that day, where the presiding judge ordered his remand in Kuje pending the issuance of bail.
Expressing his unease, Soyinka raised concerns about Agunloye’s safety within the correctional facility. He emphasized the historical context, reminding the nation of Bola Ige’s murder, which remains unsolved to this day.
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“I wish to alert the nation and the government that there exists a justifiable, high-level concern for his safety. His predecessor in office, the late Chief Bola Ige, was murdered in his bedroom by a professional assassin even while his police protection detail took time off, all at the same time, to a nearby eatery,” Soyinka stated.
Drawing attention to Agunloye’s previous collaboration in investigating Ige’s murder, Wole Soyinka expressed the potential dangers that the former minister might face due to the abrupt decision to remand him to prison. Wole Soyinka called for the establishment of an independent, non-partisan commission to thoroughly investigate the scandal surrounding Agunloye’s case.
“The latest development is sinister and alarming. Let it be understood that if anything happens to this pivotal witness while in custody, the inference will be heard loud, clear, and unambiguous,” Soyinka warned.
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The backdrop to this controversy includes the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declaring Agunloye wanted in December 2023 on charges of forgery and corruption.
Wole Soyinka’s statement serves as a powerful call for transparency, justice, and a careful examination of the circumstances surrounding Agunloye’s legal proceedings.
