Former Governor of Oyo State and the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, yesterday, chided the erstwhile governor of Osun State, Bisi Akande, over a claim that he (Ladoja) had information on how the former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Bola Ige, was assassinated.
It would be recalled that Akande had, in an interview conducted by Edmund Obilo, alleged that Ladoja had information on Ige’s assassination and that the former Oyo governor withdrew the murder case from the court.
Akande said: “I was the Chief Security Officer of Osun State at the time, not Oyo State. Lam Adesina, who was the Chief Security Officer of Oyo State, withdrew the case from the court. He might be able to tell you more. I believe he has more information on Bola Ige’s death.”
But Ladoja, while addressing the media in Ibadan, said Akande lied against him and that he did not at any time withdraw the murder case of Ige from the court while he was governor as claimed by Akande.
He, therefore, urged Akande to either withdraw the statement or be ready to face legal options. Ladoja said: “All options are open, including legal action, except the statement is withdrawn. I now understand why the likes of Chief Ayo Adebanjo and others said the books written by Akande are full of lies and distortions.
“I did nothing to harm the course of justice in the assassination case of Bola Ige. I gave all necessary support to the prosecution of the case even till the apex court.
“Chief Bola Ige was assassinated on December 23, 2001. I got to the office on May 29, 2003, which was 18 months after the assassination of Bola Ige.
“We are not all happy as a result of Bola Ige’s death, and we are all concerned about his death, I was very close to Ige while alive.”