Wole Soyinka, a renowned Nigerian Nobel laureate, has expressed concern about the safety of Olu Agunloye, a former minister of power and steel, who is currently in Kuje prison.
Agunloye was brought before an Abuja High Court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday to face charges of fraud.
The court subsequently ordered his remand in prison.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Jahman Anikulapo, on Wednesday, Soyinka pointed out that he was reminded of the murder of Bola Ige, a former Nigerian politician, which took place in his bedroom.
Soyinka emphasized that the identity of the culprits behind Ige’s murder still remains unknown.
“Dr. Olu Agunloye, we learn, was finally charged to court today, and the presiding judge in his or her wisdom, adjourned the case and proceeded to remand the accused.
“I wish to alert the nation, and the government that there exists a justifiable, high-level concern for Agunloye’s safety.
“I have made it clear that Bola Ige’s murder was not unconnected with the Mambilla scam. Olu Agunloye worked closely with me, both within and outside routine police motions, to unmask Ige’s killers.
“It would therefore amount to unpardonable complacency to propose that there are no forces sufficiently desperate to accord Agunloye the same fate as Bola Ige.
“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.
