Nobel Laureate, Prof.Wole Soyinka issued a stark warning Wednesday, urging authorities to ensure the safety of Dr. Olu Agunloye, a key witness in the ongoing “Mambilla Scam” investigation.
Agunloye, the former Minister of Power, was charged to court and subsequently remanded to Kuje prison, a decision that deeply troubles Soyinka.
In a statement titled “A Pivotal Witness, And A Custodial Danger,” Soyinka draws a chilling parallel between Agunloye’s situation and the 2002 assassination of former Minister of Justice Bola Ige, also implicated in the scandal. Ige was murdered in his home while under police protection, a case that remains unsolved to this day.
Soyinka, who worked closely with Agunloye to investigate Ige’s death, believes the similarities are ominous. “It would be unpardonable complacency to assume there are no forces willing to silence Agunloye in the same manner,” he writes. He views Agunloye’s remanding to prison as “sinister and alarming,” increasing his vulnerability.
The “Mambilla Scam” refers to a multi-billion dollar power project plagued by mismanagement and corruption, allegedly costing Nigeria dearly in electricity shortages. Soyinka has long advocated for a transparent and comprehensive investigation into the scandal, calling for an independent commission to conduct public hearings.
He concludes his statement with a stark warning: “Let it be understood that if anything happens to Dr. Agunloye while in custody, the inference will be heard loud, clear, and unambiguous.”