…Group Seeks Fresh, Independent Probe into Unresolved Circumstances Surrounding Death of Late Ashipa of Oyo
Concerned members of the Agọ-Ọja community have appealed to the Oyo State Government to revive and conduct a fresh, independent investigation into the 1992 murder of Chief Amuda Olorunkosebi, the late Ashipa of Oyo, urging authorities to establish the full circumstances surrounding his death and determine whether further prosecution is warranted.
The appeal was contained in a formal petition addressed to the Executive Governor of Oyo State, urging the government to direct the appropriate authorities, particularly the Oyo State Ministry of Justice and the Nigeria Police Force, to undertake a comprehensive review of the original investigation and all available judicial and historical records relating to the case.
Chief Olorunkosebi was reportedly murdered on November 26, 1992, at Ijawaya village in Oyo. According to the petitioners, more than three decades after the incident, significant questions remain concerning the circumstances of the killing and whether every person who may have been involved in planning, facilitating or executing the crime was identified and brought before the law.
The petition specifically referenced the Supreme Court case, Dr. Segun Oduneye v. The State, SC.88/2000, noting that the case arose from charges of conspiracy to murder and murder. It stated that the High Court of Oyo State, in its judgment of June 18, 1998, acquitted Dr. Oduneye of the substantive murder charge but convicted him on the conspiracy count and sentenced him to seven years’ imprisonment, with the conviction subsequently affirmed by the Court of Appeal before the matter proceeded to the Supreme Court.
The petitioners stressed that the distinction between the two charges was significant, arguing that the available judicial record did not establish that the person convicted of conspiracy had personally carried out the killing. They therefore called for renewed attention to the unresolved question of the circumstances surrounding the actual execution of the murder.
The group also cited the historical proceedings of the Human Rights Violations Investigation Commission, popularly known as the Oputa Panel, where members of Chief Olorunkosebi’s family and community reportedly presented a petition alleging shortcomings in the investigation and calling for those responsible for the killing to be identified and prosecuted.
While acknowledging that allegations presented before the Oputa Panel do not, on their own, establish the truth of every claim made, the petitioners argued that the proceedings form part of the historical public record and underscore longstanding concerns about whether the matter was fully investigated.
They further cited the Supreme Court record in Kano v. Oyelakin, SC.43/1989, as judicial evidence identifying Chief Amuda Olorunkosebi as the Ashipa of Oyo and Head of the Ashipa Family, Isale-Oyo, prior to his death.
The group called for a review of the original police case file, witness statements, medical and forensic evidence, the High Court proceedings, appellate records, materials presented before the Oputa Panel and information relating to individuals previously identified in connection with the case but not prosecuted.
It also urged investigators to examine whether advances in forensic and investigative techniques could assist in obtaining additional evidence or identifying new witnesses capable of shedding light on the unresolved aspects of the case.
According to the petitioners, the request is not intended to prejudge or condemn any individual, but to ensure that any further action is based strictly on evidence and due process.
They appealed to the state government to ensure that any person found, upon proper investigation and in accordance with the law, to bear criminal responsibility is dealt with appropriately, while equally respecting any conclusion that the available evidence may not support further prosecution.
The group maintained that reopening the matter would demonstrate the state’s commitment to justice, institutional accountability and the protection of human life, regardless of how much time has elapsed since an alleged crime occurred.
“More than three decades have passed. The passage of time should not be allowed to become a substitute for justice,” the petitioners stated.
They described the late Chief Olorunkosebi as a traditional institution holder, community leader, father and citizen of Oyo State, stressing that his family had continued to live with the consequences of an unresolved murder for more than 30 years.
The group therefore urged Governor Seyi Makinde to direct the relevant authorities to review the case and determine, based on available evidence and applicable law, whether further investigation or prosecution is warranted.
The appeal, according to the petitioners, is ultimately about establishing the facts, ensuring due process and preserving public confidence in the administration of justice.
