- Safiu Kehinde
The Lagos State Police Command has commenced forensic probe over the death of Bamidele Akingboye, the 2024 Ondo state Social Democratic Party’s (SDP) governorship candidate.
Akingboye reportedly passed away on the 3rd of September at his residence in Victoria Garden City (VGC), Ajah area of the state.
The ex-governorship candidate was suspected to have died by homicide with claims of being pushed from his balcony by one of his wives.
Images of Akingboye’s lifeless body which surfaced online showed bruises and deep cuts on his head and neck, suggesting that the late politician who contested in the November 16, 2024 governorship election was subjected to domestic violence.
However, the Lagos Police Commissioner, Olohundare Jimoh, disclosed that he has directed the Deputy Commissioner of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to discreetly investigate the cause of Akingboye’s death.
In reaction, the SCID on Saturday deployed a team of detectives, accompanied by the Command’s Crime Scene Investigation vehicle, visited Akingboye’s residence in Victoria Garden City (VGC) Ajah, where the body was discovered.
Olohundare, in an exclusive interview with Channels TV, vowed to probe into the circumstances that surrounded Akingboye’s death as he maintained that the ex-governorship candidate was hale and healthy before his sudden demise.
“We have to investigate deeply to know the circumstances surrounding his death because this is somebody that was hale and healthy.
“We got the complain that his body was found within the compound.
“And this is somebody that was believed to have slept in his dwelling house with his family. All these circumstances needed to be properly investigated.
“We are not going to leave any stone unturned to ensure that we get to the root of the cause of his death and where there is any reasonable suspicion that some people were involved, we will ensure that such individuals are apprehended.” He said.
Also addressing newsmen, Samuel Akingboye, the son of the late politician”, called for thorough investigation by the police to uncover the mystery surrounding his father’s death.
Samuel who opened the case for the investigation demanded explanation on how his father died.
“I saw him a day before (he died). So, it is very shocking to just see this happened.
“That’s why I opened the case to know how he died because I wasn’t getting any explanation.
“It’s been just very tough, and I just want to do the best by knowing how he died. There has to be an explanation. And that explanation is worth looking for.” He said.
Meanwhile, the daughter of the deceased, Michaella Akingboye, urged members of the public to dismiss the speculations surrounding her father’s death as she expressed confidence in the police investigation in unraveling the actual cause of Akingboye’s demise.
“I urge the public to debunk everything that has been posted on blogs, on social media. Everything is not the truth.
“I believe that the police are currently carrying out an investigation which I believe will be done diligently.
“The truth will surely come to light. The whole family stands behind the police.” She said.
The residence of the late politician was cordoned off following the arrival of forensic experts who deployed specialized tools and scientific methods to secure evidence and analyse the circumstances surrounding the incident.
According to reports, invitation has been extended to some of the occupants of the house for questioning while the result of Akingboye’s autopsy is yet to be released.