A member of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, Prof Femi Odekunle, died at 77 on Tuesday.
This was contained in a statement by the Executive Secretary of PACAC, Prof Sadiq Radda.
The statement read in part, “It is with a heavy heart and total submission to the will of God that the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption announces the death of its member, Prof. Femi Odekunle.
“He died today, December 29, 2020 in Abuja.”
Radda described Odekunle, a professor of criminology, as “a man of excellent values and principles” who “will be seriously missed by the Committee”.
The statement added, “He left behind a wife, children and siblings. The details of the burial arrangements will be made public soonest. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace.”
Buhari’s condolence message was contained in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, titled “We have lost a valued friend: President Buhari reacts to the death of Professor Odekunle.”
He quoted Buhari as describing the deceased as “a valued friend and a towering intellectual giant with an impeccable knowledge of his chosen academic field, criminology and in such others as governance and administration.”
The President reportedly said, “His death is very saddening.
“His lasting contributions, as well as his charisma, wit and sense of humour, will be sorely missed by all us, his friends and associates. May the Almighty repose his soul.”
Odekunle, born in Ilesa, Osun State, on May 2, 1943, was among those arrested and detained along with then Chief of General Staff, Lieutenant Oladipo Diya, for allegedly plotting a coup against the regime of the late Gen. Sani Abacha.
