Ladoja denies withdrawing Bola Ige’s case, threatens to sue Akande

A former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, on Monday denied withdrawing the case on the assassination of former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, late Chief Bola Ige.

Bisi Akande, a former Osun State governor, in an interview, alleged that Ladoja withdrew the case when he was the Governor of Oyo State.

“I was the Chief Security Officer of Osun State at the time, not Oyo State. Lam Adesina was the Chief Security Officer of Oyo State and he went to court and the governor that took over from him, Ladoja, withdrew the case from court. He might be able to tell you more. I believe he has more information on Bola Ige’s death,” Akande had said.

Responding to Akande, Ladoja said, “Chief Akande lied against me.”

Ladoja, who is the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, disclosed this during an interview with journalists at his Ondo Street residence in Ibadan, the state capital.

He warned that he would consider all possible actions, including legal steps, unless Akande retracts his statement and issues a public apology.

Ladoja said, “Chief Bola Ige was assassinated on December 23, 2001, 18 months before I assumed office. I became governor on May 29, 2003, and Chief Ige was killed on December 23, 2001, which was 18 months before my tenure began.

“I didn’t withdraw the case. My government didn’t withdraw any cases.

“The case was even prosecuted up to the Supreme Court. Chief Akande lied against me, and he is old. This is not his first time. People say he lies. Even Baba Adebanjo said he lied in his book.

“We are all deeply saddened by Ige’s death. We are all concerned about his murder; I was very close to Chief Bola Ige when he was alive.”