Chief Adebayo Adefarati

Adefarati, AD governor of Ondo State 1999–2003, was the subject of an ICPC investigation opened in January 2002 over alleged financial recklessness and a ₦500 million property-fraud allegation tied to a Victoria Island plot, plus a Code of Conduct Bureau petition received in November 2002 alleging corruption, abuse of office, and conflict of interest. A Federal High Court suit was filed by Dr. Opeyemi Mateola seeking to compel the Bureau to act, and the National Conscience Party separately petitioned. Adefarati publicly denied the allegations; he lost re-election to Olusegun Agagu (PDP) in April 2003 amid political defections led by Olusegun Mimiko and others. He later became the AD's 2007 presidential candidate but died suddenly in Owo on 29 March 2007, weeks before the election. No criminal charges had been laid and no conviction had been reached by the time of his death. Despite the investigation, Adefarati is widely remembered in Ondo as a man of peace and a benchmark for selfless leadership. Status: `investigation` (no charges, subject deceased).