Rashidi Yekini
Deaths of Nigeria’s golden generation of footballers have rocked the country in recent 
times but one death that has left controversy behind it is that of ex-Super Eagles 
striker Rashidi Yekini, reports ’TANA AIYEJINA and SUCCESS NWOGU
After earning Nigeria a debut appearance at the World Cup and a first Africa Cup of
 Nations title away from home, the country’s golden generation of footballers,
 regarded as the Class of ’94, undoubtedly became heroes of the football-crazy 
compatriots.
However, years after, some members of the squad have given up the ghost, leaving 
the nation grieving in tears.
First it was Uche Okafor, who reportedly committed suicide in the US in 2011, then
 it was the country’s record goal scorer Rashidi Yekini, who was rumoured to be
 insane in Ibadan, Oyo State, before he died on May 4, 2012.
Former ASEC midfielder Thompson Oliha died from complications in 2013, goalkeeper
 Wilfred Agbonavbare died in 2015 after a battle with cancer, before captain of
 the side Stephen Keshi passed on in Benin City, Edo State, on June 7.
However, one death that has left controversy trailing it is that of Yekini. The demise 
of the ex-Vitoria Setubal striker four years ago has left Yekini’s lawyer, Jibril Olanrewaju, 
pitted in a war of words, accusations and counter-accusations, against the fallen 
footballer’s family, ever since.
Olanrewaju believes Yekini’s family had a hand in his death, after they forcefully 
abducted him in Ibadan few weeks before his death.
“I feel strongly so and nobody can change my opinion except God or there is an 
inquisition to his death and there’s something contrary to what I have. I will 
forever remain resolute in my conclusion. He (Yekini) told me in confidence that if 
they (family) succeeded in taking him away, that would be his end, and that’s 
exactly what happened,” Olanrewaju stated.
“I begged them to tell me where he was taken to so that these (Yekini’s) kids, who 
have been asking me, would know what happened to their dad. I didn’t get any clue 
until Rufiat (Yekini’s sister), who was among those that took him away, came 
about three months before she died. She apologised and said he was taken to some 
marabou; he was chained, he had his hair shaved and he was begging them to allow
 him have access to me, so that I could know what was going on.
“On the 4th (of May 2012) she said he was given a cup of tea and after taking two 
sips, he went to sleep. About 10 minutes later, he woke up violently and was gasping for
 breath. Eventually he was vomiting blood, they did everything to save him but 
when they couldn’t, they took him to Apete clinic. That was the only clue I had on how he 
died.”
But Yekin’s younger brother, Akeem, who lives with his mother in Ijagbo, 
Oyun Local Government Area of Kwara State, said the family was only trying to 
help Yekini before he gave up the ghost.
“Yekini’s wife in Osogbo told us that he was burning things inside his house in 
Ibadan. So, Mama went to see him but Yekini said he was fine. We were afraid that
 he might burn himself. So, Mama took him to an Alfa for treatment. It was from there 
he was rushed to the hospital, where he died,” the 30-year-old Akeem said.
Olanrewaju said Yekini had two property, one in Oni and Sons area of Ibadan, which 
comprises of twin five-room duplexes and a boys quarter of two rooms and two garages.
The other one, which he bought in 1994, is in Ijagbo, where the mother stays. 
It’s a two-storied building of four flats of three bedrooms each. There is also a boys
 quarter and a mosque he constructed for traders in that vicinity.
But the lawyer said the family is making it difficult for the late footballer’s kids
 to take possession of the property.
“Mama will attest to it that Yekini always said all his property will go to his children 
but we are finding it difficult because he didn’t write a will. Even at that, legally, since
 he has children, they naturally should take the property,” Olanrewaju added.
But Akeem said the family had never had anything to do with the property in Ibadan. 
Instead, he accused Olanrewaju and one of the wives of the late footballer of plotting
 to sell the property.
Akeem stated, “We never wanted to sell the house. Before my brother died, he said
 the house in Ibadan was for his children while the house at Ijagbo was for our mother. 
When we saw that nobody was living in our brother’s house in Ibadan, we decided that it
 should be repaired and rented out so that the children could make use of the money.
“It was the wife in London and the lawyer who wanted to sell the house but 
they were restrained by people, who told them to rent it out instead.”
Another controversy plaguing the former Africa Sports striker’s family is the number of 
children he left behind. While the lawyer says Yekini has two daughters, Yemisi and
 Omoyemi, the family insists its three.
It was learnt that Yekini had an affair with a Togolese lady, who gave birth to a girl, 
Suliat, about 11 years ago. However, Yekini denied the paternity of the baby but 
the family kept it. Suliat is staying with her mother in Ibadan.
Olanrewaju said, “When I confronted Yekini, he told me that he actually had a
 relationship with the lady but he said, ‘that was over a year ago and how could
 the lady come and say she is six months pregnant after leaving her for over a year?’
“On the eighth day of Fidau prayers for Yekini, the lady came with a little kid, a girl, 
and was trying to force the baby on me, that I should take it as it is. And I said if Yekini
 denied the paternity of the baby, it would be foolhardy of me to just take it like that. 
I advised them that they should go for a DNA test; that if it is positive, I would be
 legally harmless to do anything. So, for now, as far as I know, Yemisi and Omoyemi 
are the two children Yekini gave to me.”
But Akeem said, “Yekini admitted that he slept with the woman but denied that he is 
not the father of the child. The girl however looks like Yekini. The woman 
had a misunderstanding with him, so she came to stay with my mother, where she gave 
birth to the child. It’s my mother that is sponsoring the girl right now.”
Recent reports say Yekini’s mother, Sikiratu, is living in poverty and barely surviving
with her bread business.
Even though the lawyer insists that the woman is not suffering, since she is in 
charge of collecting rent of the house, it was evident that she was passing through hard 
times.
When one of our correspondents visited her house at Ijagbo, the building was in state of 
decay. Even though it was swept clean, the paintings as well as the worn out roofing 
sheets and dilapidated balconies and walls were begging for renewal.
“I spoke with Mama consistently up till February last year and she was accusing me and 
raining curses on me that each time she solicits for funds from the public, I used to
 block her and tell the world that she had enough to take care of herself.
“The rent (of the Ijagbo house) accrues to the mother and I don’t think anybody has 
taken a dime from it; even Yekini didn’t when he was alive,” Olanrewaju added.
However, Akeem said money from the rent was barely enough to take care of the old
 woman. He also accused the lawyer  of collecting money meant for the family of Yekini.
“The house here has four flats and a boy’s quarters but it’s  not as expensive as what 
you have in Lagos. We use the two flats up. My mother is the one who repairs the
 house and pays the bills,” Akeem said.
He added, “Since our brother died, the lawyer collects anything that is given to the
 family; they don’t give Mama anything. This year, someone came to give 
Mama N100,000 to do her business but the promise from the Kwara State 
Government to Mama has not been fulfilled. The governor said they will give the 
family N2.5m but we haven’t seen anything since then. Mama needs help, she is 
in a helpless condition.”
But the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, through his Senior Special 
Assistant on Media and Communication, Dr. Muyideen Akorede, said it was untrue 
that  the government had not assisted Yekini’s family.
Akorode said when he died, the State Executive Council devoted part of a session 
to him, observed a minute silence for him and also agreed that a road, the 
former CBN Quarters road, leading from Agba Dam to Olaolu Hospital, in Ilorin, be
 named after him, which was done within two months  after his  demise.
He said, “When he died, the government reached out to the family immediately.  
The Governor personally visited the family and also sent a government delegation
 to attend the Fidau prayers for the deceased.
“The government also contributed N1.5m to the family immediately he died. The 
government again approved the release of an additional N1.5m  for the family to
 support them.”
Akorode claimed that Governor Ahmed was not informed  of Sikiratu’s hardship.
“It is coming to us for the first time to hear that Yekini’s mother is in such difficulty; 
I assure you that the state government will do something about it soon.”
He added that Ahmed’s wife, Omolewa, on hearing about Sikiratu’s predicament, 
 had sent a delegation to  assess her situation and determine the manner of help 
the old woman needed.  He added that money, textile and foodstuff were given to her.
“I don’t believe that Rashidi Yekini’s mother actually claimed abandonment by the state government. She would not say that,” he said.