A fresh controversy has erupted within the Akingboye family following the death of former Ondo State governorship candidate, Otunba Benson Akingboye, with disagreements intensifying over the circumstances surrounding his death and the arrangements for his burial.
In the immediate aftermath of his passing, tensions reportedly flared between members of the extended family and Mrs. Christiana Akingboye, identified as the deceased’s second wife. Some family members had initially alleged foul play, pointing fingers at Mrs. Akingboye and her children, who were said to be among the last to see the late politician alive.
The matter was subsequently investigated by the Lagos State Police Command and classified as a suspected murder case. However, a report dated January 5, 2026, by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) found no sufficient evidence linking Mrs. Christiana Akingboye and her six children to the death, effectively clearing them of the allegations.
The dispute has since shifted focus to burial arrangements, further deepening the rift within the family. Mrs. Akingboye is said to have approached the High Court of Lagos State, filing a suit marked LD/9238FPM/2026 and assigned to Justice Atinuke Ipaye. She also secured an injunction restraining the family from proceeding with burial plans earlier scheduled for the last week of March 2026, insisting that the deceased be interred in Lagos.
In reaction, members of the extended Akingboye family have opposed her actions, describing them as a disruption of established family and traditional processes. Speaking on behalf of the family, Mr. Kembi Olorundare-Akingboye maintained that burial decisions remain the prerogative of the family.
He further stated that while most of Mrs. Akingboye’s children are recognized as part of the lineage, one child, identified as Oluwagbemiga, is not biologically related to the deceased, alleging that the child belongs to one Lateef Adebiyi from Egba, Ogun State.
The family also emphasized that the late Akingboye was legally and traditionally married to Mrs. Josephine Abiola Akingboye, insisting that the union remains valid and subsisting.
According to the family, the deceased held significant traditional titles in Ikale land and must be buried in accordance with customary rites in his hometown. They argued that burying him outside his ancestral home would violate tradition and could have serious cultural implications.
They also dismissed claims suggesting that Mrs. Akingboye’s legal team wields undue influence, warning that any actions perceived as undermining the family’s position would be met with appropriate legal and traditional responses.
Counsel to Samuel Akingboye, the first son of the deceased and a respondent in the suit, Mr. A.O. Ajulo, declined to comment on the matter, noting that he does not speak on issues currently before the court.
As legal proceedings continue, the dispute underscores the complex intersection of legal authority, cultural tradition, and family dynamics in the management of high-profile burial arrangements.
