Christy Akingboye, widow of the late Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate in the November 2024 Ondo election, Bamidele Akingboye, has publicly denied allegations linking her to her husband’s death, describing them as “cruel, false, and deliberately orchestrated to smear me and my children.”
Addressing journalists in Lagos, Christy said she stayed silent for weeks after the tragedy to preserve her husband’s dignity and protect their children from stigma, especially because suicide remains a sensitive and misunderstood topic in Nigerian society.
Christy revealed that the late politician was first diagnosed with bipolar manic disorder in 2019 and struggled with multiple episodes of severe mania, suicidal ideation, and erratic behaviour.
“He was my friend. I didn’t just lose a husband; I lost my better half,” she said.
She recalled two major breakdowns in 2019, one in which their daughter saved him from jumping off their balcony, and another in Dubai, where police took him to a psychiatric hospital.
She listed several hospitals in Lagos, Dubai and Abuja where he received treatment, adding that the family endured the ordeal quietly to protect him.
Christy added that Bamidele’s condition worsened amid political pressure, heavy debts and mounting campaign stress. She noted that before he died, he had shown her a lengthy list of creditors, totalling hundreds of millions of naira.
According to Christy, “his stress level was extremely high,” especially during and after his political engagements.
She said her husband repeatedly expressed fear that creditors might involve law enforcement agencies, further heightening his anxiety.
“I chose not to mention the suicide attempts publicly. In our society, suicide is weaponised. I didn’t want him remembered that way,” she said.
‘My Stepson Accused Me Falsely, Used Doctored Photos’
Christy said the controversy began when her stepson, Samuel Akingboye, whom she described as her own son, accused her of killing his father.
She said she expected him to stabilise the family after the tragedy, but instead, “he went the route of blackmail, fabrications and media attacks.”
Christy alleged that Samuel circulated digitally altered photos purporting to show injuries on her husband’s body.
“To my shock, they used AI to paint blood on his face. The real mortuary pictures show no bruises, no cuts, nothing like what they posted,” she said.
Christy faulted the initial handling of the case by some police officers, claiming investigators failed to inspect crucial areas, review medical records, or secure the scene before arresting her and her children.
The family, she said, was detained for three days shortly after the incident.
A subsequent reassignment of the case led to a more thorough investigation, including visits to their rooms, balcony, and neighbouring properties.
She disclosed that officers later discovered a second CCTV camera facing the balcony, but its footage had been overwritten because early investigators had delayed securing evidence.
Her confidence waned again when the case was returned to the original unit, and she described traumatic repeated summons and what she believed were attempts to force a murder narrative despite the lack of forensic findings.
Christy recounted their ordeal last Friday when she and her children were escorted to Panti after assurances they would not be detained.
According to her, over 20 armed officers were waiting when they arrived.
“If not that I prepared my children mentally outside, they would have panicked,” she said.
She questioned why her stepson continued appearing at police formations even after being informed that the case had been moved.
“He has been going to Panti every day. What is he doing there?” she asked.
Despite her distrust of the process, Christy expressed confidence that the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) would objectively review the evidence once the police forward the case file.
She said, “My hands are clean. God knows the truth. I have nothing to hide.
“He was my friend. I fought for his life for years. His children saw the episodes, they know what happened. They all need therapy after this.”
She urged the authorities to focus on her husband’s medical records and long battle with mental illness, insisting that only a fair and thorough investigation can bring closure.
Christy added, “I didn’t kill my husband. I loved him and stood by him through everything. I only want the truth to prevail.”
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