DID YOU KNOW? Osun PDP Guber Candidate Adebayo ‘Fryo’ Adedamola Was Once Arraigned Over Bola Ige’s Murder

Adebayo Olugbenga Adedamola, popularly known as ‘Fryo’, grabbed headlines on December 2 when he emerged as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate for the August 2026 Osun election.

His rise came suddenly after Ademola Adeleke — earlier expected to fly the party’s flag — shockingly resigned from the PDP, blaming the party’s endless leadership crisis. With Adeleke out, the ticket moved straight to Adedamola, thrusting him into the centre of Osun political discussions.

But for older residents in Osun and Oyo, the name ‘Fryo’ is far from new — and not for political campaigns. It’s a name tied to one of Nigeria’s darkest political tragedies.

A NAME WITH A CONTROVERSIAL PAST

On December 23, 2001, Nigeria’s attorney-general and justice minister, Chief Bola Ige, was shot dead in his Bodija home, Ibadan. The assassination shook the nation and deepened the raging political feud in Osun between then-governor Bisi Akande and his estranged deputy, Iyiola Omisore.

Ige had been mediating their political crisis within the Alliance for Democracy (AD). But as tensions worsened, clashes erupted between rival supporters. Omisore was later impeached, and many believed the hostility spilled into the tragic killing.

Just days before his death, Ige faced public humiliation in Ile-Ife when a mob of youths — allegedly loyal to Omisore — attacked him and knocked off his cap, a grave cultural insult in Yorubaland.

‘FRYO’ ENTERS THE FRAME

On January 14, 2002, human rights lawyer Festus Keyamo dramatically presented Adedamola to journalists as an informant who allegedly had inside details about Ige’s murder. Keyamo claimed Adedamola told him that Omisore had once offered him N5 million to kill Ige — an offer he allegedly rejected.

According to Keyamo:

“He knows all the facts… those who masterminded the killing. We will release evidence in stages.”

Soon after, Adedamola surrendered to the police.

But the twist came when Adedamola later recanted his statements, accusing Keyamo of coercing him to implicate Omisore just to boost the lawyer’s public profile.

Adedamola admitted he was among the youths who humiliated Ige at the Ooni’s Palace but insisted he had nothing to do with the murder:

“I took part in removing his cap because we believed he caused the crisis. But I did not know anything about his death.”

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THE TRIAL AND EVENTUAL DISCHARGE

Thirteen suspects, including several political associates and police officers, were eventually arraigned in court. The list included:

Alani Omisore, Adesiyan Oyewale Jelili, Adekunle Alao, Hon. Lambe Oyasope, Daramola Ezekiel, Sgt. Oye Oniyanda, Adebayo Adegoke, Karimu Lawal, Nelson Kumoye, Oluwole Ogunjiwu, Cpl. Sule Ibrahim, and Idowu James.

At a point, even Iyiola Omisore and Festus Keyamo themselves were arrested and arraigned.

The constant twists weakened the prosecution’s case, and by October 16, 2004, the court discharged the remaining accused — including Adedamola — ruling that prosecutors failed to prove the charges of conspiracy and murder.