Former Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, has reportedly died in the United Kingdom at the age of 77.
The former governor’s reported death was confirmed to LEADERSHIP by sources familiar with the development, although details surrounding his death remained sketchy as of press time.
The sources also disclosed that Idris’ remains could be brought back to Nigeria this week for burial at his ancestral home in Abejukolo, Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State.
Idris governed Kogi State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from 2003 to 2012, after defeating the then incumbent governor, Prince Abubakar Audu, in the 2003 election.
He was re-elected in 2007, but the election was subsequently nullified following a legal challenge over the exclusion of Audu from the contest.
The Court of Appeal upheld the judgment in February 2008 and ordered a fresh election, which Idris contested in March of the same year and won. His victory was again challenged by Audu.
Idris eventually completed his tenure in January 2012 and was succeeded by Captain Idris Wada.
Born in 1949 in Idah, Kogi State, the former governor was a businessman before entering politics.
He founded Ibro Trading Company, with interests spanning construction, furniture manufacturing and hospitality. He also established a furniture factory in Sokoto and the Ibro Hotel.
Idris attracted national attention in 2006 when three of his daughters survived the ADC Airlines Flight 53 crash, which claimed several lives.
The former governor suffered another major family loss in April 2024 when his son, Mohammed Ibrahim Idris, a former member of the House of Representatives representing Ankpa/Olamaboro/Omala Federal Constituency of Kogi State, died in Abuja.
As of press time, however, neither the family nor the Kogi State Government had issued an official statement confirming Idris’ reported death.
