Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Lagos, Nigeria — Christiana Akingboye, widow of the late businessman and politician Bamidele Akingboye, has accused the Lagos State Police Command of unlawfully releasing her husband’s remains and mishandling critical evidence, despite the family being cleared of any wrongdoing by the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The allegations were made during a press conference over the weekend and include claims of due process violations, abuse of power, and deliberate marginalisation of her immediate family.
Mrs. Akingboye said that the DPP’s legal advice, issued after investigations by the police and prosecution authorities, exonerated her, her children, and household staff in connection with her husband’s death, effectively ending any lawful basis for continued police involvement. “Once the DPP cleared my children and me, there was no criminal basis for any further police interference,” she stated, emphasising that the family should have been notified of the outcome directly by the police.
The widow alleged that confidential investigative documents, including the DPP’s legal advice, were leaked online and disseminated by a foreign-based blogger before the police had formally informed her family of the decision. She expressed frustration that the family learned of the exoneration through social media rather than official communication from the authorities.
Mrs. Akingboye also accused police officers of improperly handling her late husband’s personal effects, saying that his mobile phones and medications, taken from her as part of the investigation, were not returned appropriately. She claimed that the mobile phones were given to her estranged stepson, while the medications have not been returned despite repeated formal requests from her lawyers.
The widow said her legal team had formally written to both the police and the morgue, warning that her husband’s body and personal effects should not be released to anyone without the immediate family’s consent or a valid court order. In a January 23 meeting convened by officers of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Panti, the only matter resolved was the return of the family’s passports, with promises of a subsequent meeting that never materialised, she said.
Days later, the family learned from another source that her husband’s remains had been quietly released to her estranged stepson and unidentified individuals without her consent, notification, or a court order, Akingboye alleged. She described this as a clear violation of the Coroner’s System Law of Lagos State, which limits police authority to investigatory duties that end after completion of post-mortem examinations and issuance of prosecutorial advice.
Mrs. Akingboye appealed to President Bola Tinubu, the Senate Committee on Ethics and Public Petitions, and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to order an independent investigation into her husband’s death and the handling of related procedures by the police. She underscored that justice should not be overridden by power, even in matters involving death, and expressed concern for her safety and that of her children amid ongoing disputes.
The controversy surrounding the death of Bamidele Akingboye, a former Social Democratic Party governorship candidate, and the handling of the case by security agencies and prosecutors has generated public debate and scrutiny, highlighting tensions between families of the deceased and law enforcement agencies over investigative protocols and evidence handling.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments