01/08/2025
PUBLIC STATEMENT BY H.E EDWARD DAVID ONOJA, FORMER DEPUTY GOVERNOR OF KOGI STATE, ON THE DASTARDLY ACCUSATIONS IN THE DEATHS OF AYO AND PELUMI
I have followed with deep pain and shock the publication by Sahara Reporters yesterday the 31 day of July, 2025 alleging my involvement in the unfortunate deaths of two young men; Ayodeji Aiyepeku and Oluwapelumi Simidele Adebayo. The article attributes this grave and unfounded suspicion to a joint petition to the police by both families.
Let me first state clearly and without equivocation: I categorically and vehemently deny as wicked, baseless and defamatory in their entirety the insinuations and allegations contained in the irresponsible article.
The deaths of Ayo and Pelumi are tragedies no family should ever have to endure. The pain of losing one’s child is indescribable and I mourn with them. The circumstances of the two deaths are, at best, murky and all well-meaning Nigerians must trust the police and relevant authorities to continue their ongoing investigations till the truth behind these deeply saddening incidents are fully uncovered.
That said, it is important to clarify that:
● Ayodeji Aiyepeku was neither known to me nor did he, to my knowledge, belong to any team that worked under me during my service as Chief of Staff and later Deputy Governor of Kogi State.
● Oluwapelumi Simidele Adebayo was my son-in-law, as he was married to my daughter a young lady I took under my care over 2 decades ago, along with her younger sibling, after they lost both parents as children.
The deaths of both young men are nevertheless a deep tragedy.
It is against this backdrop that I read with utter disbelief and heartbreak the content of the Sahara Reporters article, wherein my name was dragged into these painful matters with reckless abandon and without any shred of consideration.
To be accused of involvement in the deaths of these individuals is not only cruel but defamatory in the extreme. Since the publication, I have been inundated with calls and messages from all over the country and abroad, questioning the vile and unfounded insinuations now linked to my name.
Accordingly, I consider this an attempt to tarnish my hard-earned reputation and bring my family to ridicule and that is totally unacceptable.
It is important for the public record to know this:
● My daughter left her matrimonial home last month with her son, after enduring almost four years of persistent and escalating domestic violence from Pelumi in the name of marriage.
● His family was aware of this abuse but my daughter spared me the painful details for years.
● It is also a fact that Pelumi had some mental health disorders later confirmed by hospitals in Lokoja - a fact that was deliberately concealed from my family at the time of his marriage to my daughter.
● It was only after marriage that these violent outbursts and patterns of abuse became evident;patterns which endangered the life and wellbeing of my daughter and their child.
● The final straw came when Pelumi, in a fit of rage, pulled a knife and came after her with fatal intent, prompting her to finally reach out to us last month fully determined to stay away until he got help for his fits of uncontrollable rage and physical violence.
● Of course I sent people to get her immediately after putting a call across to the Kogi State Police Command for men to supervise the evacuation due to his threats to attack anyone who dared to show up.
● In the end we did not need the police,surprisingly, Pelumi himself seemed to have had a rethink and even helped to pack their things, load the vehicle and bid herself and their son (who only turned one several days ago) safe journey to Abuja.
● After some time his parents visited on the night of Monday 21st of July, 2025. Earlier that morning,Pelumi came around. Though he did not come to the house but called his wife who met him at a Barbing Saloon in front of my estate where I was later told (they had some time together with their son).
● During the meeting with his parents they finally admitted he had some issues, namely, psychotic episodes, and requested that the wife and child stay with us for 3 months after which she will come stay with them in Lagos for another 3 months while we monitored Pelumi's treatment and progress.
● Present at this meeting were Pelumi’s parents, my own aged parents (his wife's grandparents), my wife and sundry other family members. We had an amicable 2 hours or so brainstorming solutions to the problems between our two children in their marriage.
● Whoever claimed that I ‘rebuffed’ his family's overtures for a peace meeting is an inveterate liar - as I have outlined above, we had a very pleasant meeting in the matters and were working together to help them based on our agreements above before news of the sudden and gory deaths suddenly broke.
Let me be clear:
I do not know Ayo and I know Pelumi to the extents and in the manners I have related above. I do not know anything about the circumstances of either Ayo’s or Pelumi’s death beyond what has been published in the media.
There are, however, conflicting reports, and I too, like every other concerned Nigerian, await clarity from law enforcement.
It is therefore tragic that, in the face of such pain, both families have found common ground not in truth or healing, but in a joint petition to the police falsely accusing me of involvement in the deaths of these two young men.
I am not involved and I reject in totality any insinuation or allegation to the contrary. Moreover, it is defamatory and damaging and I will seek appropriate and legal redress.
Let it be clear, My reputation, service and life’s work will not be sacrificed on the altar of misjudgment or sensational journalism.
May Ayo and Pelumi receive their fitting rewards from the Eternal Judge,and may the truth emerge soon.
I issue this statement for the records, and for posterity.
Signed:
EDWARD DAVID ONOJA
Former Deputy Governor, Kogi State
August 1, 2025
