In 1962, during the political crisis in the Western Region of Nigeria, the Coker Commission of Inquiry was established. George Baptist Ayodola Coker was delegated by Moses Majekodunmi, the sole head of the Western District, to seat the commission of investigation into the undertakings of the Area’s six legal companies since October first 1964.
In 1962, the conflict within the Action Group, the regional ruling party, between Awolowo and Akintola had grown to an unprecedented level of chaos in the region. Political thugs set fire to people and things. Operation Wetie was given the name of the crisis. Here are all of the details.
In 1962, the Coker Commission found Obafemi Awolowo, the first premier of the Western Region, guilty of corruption. Western Region Marketing Board had N6.2 million in 1954. It had to survive on overdrafts of more than N2.5 million by May 1962. The National Investment and Properties Co., Ltd. received a loan of N6.7 million for construction projects, but only N500,000 was ever repaid.
Additionally, the West Nigeria Development Corporation and the Western Region Finance Corporation received millions of pounds in loans that were never repaid. Awolowo was found to be responsible for all of the Western Region Marketing Board’s problems by the Coker Commission, and the commission stated that Awolowo “without a doubt has failed to adhere to the standards of conduct which are required for persons holding such a post.”
Samuel Ladoke Akintola was also cleared in this report, which was released on December 31, 1962. However, some individuals saw the Coker commission as a tool to “discredit the Awolowo faction of the Action Group.”
From 1964 to 1975, George Baptist Ayodola Coker served as a judge on the Nigerian Supreme Court. He wrote two works: a lecture series on freedom and justice and Yoruba family property.
From 1924 to 1928, he attended Lagos’ Olowogbowo Wesleyan Primary School, and from 1929 to 1931, he attended Lagos’ Methodist Boys High School. He graduated from secondary school as one of Igbobi College’s foundational students. He then worked briefly as a government employee and later as a teacher.
