The Ondo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Olukayode Ajulo, has come under criticism for discontinuing the prosecution of one Fred Akinnuoye, who was accused of attempting to kill a 34-year-old bricklayer, Ojo Ajisafe.
Ajisafe condemned the decision, calling it “a gross miscarriage of justice and a move to protect an influential suspect.”
According to The PUNCH, Akinnuoye, also known as Adaja, was standing trial at the Ondo State High Court in Akure for allegedly attacking Ajisafe with machetes during a land dispute in the Igba area of Ondo East Local Government.
In an October 28 statement, the Ministry of Justice—through its Head of Information, Olaoluwa Meshack—announced that Dr. Ajulo had filed a nolle prosequi, a formal notice to discontinue prosecution, leading to Akinnuoye’s release from the Olokuta Correctional Centre. The Attorney General said he exercised his constitutional powers under Section 211 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) after reviewing the case and finding the charges “unsubstantiated.”
However, this decision directly contradicted an earlier legal advice issued by the Directorate of Public Prosecution on September 17, 2025, which recommended Akinnuoye’s prosecution for attempted murder, assault, and conspiracy. That document explicitly linked Akinnuoye to the attack and advised that he be charged under relevant provisions of the Ondo State Criminal Code.
Ajisafe expressed outrage, accusing the Attorney General of bias and political interference. He maintained that the disputed land legally belonged to his late father, Pa Michael Ajisafe, who had granted Akinnuoye a power of attorney in 2016 only to manage the property during his illness. After his father’s death in 2017, Ajisafe claimed, Akinnuoye began selling parts of the land and even adopted his family’s surname to claim ownership.
“He was never my father’s son — he was just his agent. But after my father’s death, he pretended to be a family member and started selling our land,” Ajisafe said.
He questioned why the Attorney General overturned both the police investigation and the earlier prosecution advice, saying: “After your ministry said he had a case to answer, what changed? Was new evidence presented, or was the decision politically motivated?”
Ajisafe also accused Ajulo of abusing his office, warning that his life is now in danger following Akinnuoye’s release. He recounted that on February 14, 2025, Akinnuoye and four others ambushed him and his wife on the land, inflicting deep machete wounds before fleeing.
His lawyer, Oluwafemi Akinbinu described the Attorney General’s action as “a clear misuse of state power influenced by political interests.” He revealed that shortly before the nolle prosequi was filed, about 30 politicians and local councillors had written to Ajulo demanding that the case against Akinnuoye be dropped.
“The same office that recommended his prosecution suddenly reversed itself — that’s no coincidence,” Akinbinu said. “Political pressure clearly played a role.”
He added that Akinnuoye had a history of fabricating allegations to discredit Ajisafe. At one point, he allegedly smeared himself with blood to fake a gunshot injury and accused Ajisafe of attempted murder — a claim police investigations later disproved.
Akinbinu further cited previous cases in which Ajulo’s office had been accused of using state power vindictively, including a 2023 incident involving the Fawehinmi and Fasimoye families, where the court ruled against the Attorney General and fined him ₦1 million for misuse of authority.
The lawyer urged the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to reopen the case and ensure justice for his client.
Meanwhile, the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) for Zone 17, Musibau Ajani, confirmed that the police had “diligently investigated” the case before charging Akinnuoye to court, adding: “The Attorney General has now withdrawn it through a nolle prosequi.”
Similarly, Farat Sangodiran, the first son of the late Pa Ajisafe, described Akinnuoye as “an impostor and fraudster” who exploited their father’s trust.
“He’s not part of our family. My father only trusted him when he fell ill, but after his death, he took advantage of the situation and began claiming ownership of the land,” Sangodiran said.
The controversy has since sparked outrage in Ondo State, with many accusing the Attorney General of undermining justice and favouring political allies.
