A tragedy has unfolded in Ondo State with the passing of Mr. Oluwasegun Olayinka Oluwarotimi, who tragically died on February 4, 2026. His death marks the end of a painful chapter of injustice that began when he was shot by an officer from the Ondo State Security Network Agency, known as Amotekun Corps, on August 9, 2021. This incident not only resulted in the amputation of his leg, leaving him permanently disabled, but also destroyed his livelihood as a commercial motorcyclist, plunging him into enduring hardship.
Lawyer Tope Temokun announced Mr. Oluwarotimi’s death and expressed profound disappointment in the government’s handling of the case. “His passing marks one of the darkest phases of institutional oppression in recent Ondo State history,” Temokun stated. Despite extensive efforts to seek compensation, Mr. Oluwarotimi was met with bureaucratic neglect.
The timeline of his struggle reveals a series of attempts to secure justice. On October 18, 2022, a demand for two million Naira in compensation was submitted to the Ondo State Amotekun Commandant. Shortly after, on October 24, 2022, a letter was sent to then-Governor Akeredolu, appealing for intervention. Following a court ruling on March 30, 2023, that awarded Mr. Oluwarotimi ₦30 million, further demands for compliance were issued to both the governor and the Attorney-General.
After the Court of Appeal upheld the High Court ruling on November 20, 2024, additional appeals were made to the current governor and Attorney-General, also seeking compliance. However, Temokun lamented the lack of response from the government: “No empathy, no compliance, and no intention to negotiate a compromise were shown by the government.”
Mr. Oluwarotimi’s situation worsened as he faced ongoing medical complications and financial struggles. “He lived like a beggar, while the government engaged in continued litigation instead of showing compassion to a dying citizen,” Temokun said. In December 2025, garnishee proceedings were initiated due to the lack of voluntary compliance, but Mr. Oluwarotimi passed away before any resolution could be achieved.
“The court can only be the last hope of the common man if the government is willing to respect its orders,” Temokun emphasized. “Where the government is unwilling, there is no hope for the common man.”
As the State mourns the loss of Mr. Oluwarotimi, there are urgent calls for accountability and systemic change in the governance of Ondo State.
