‘Akande lied’ — Ladoja denies knowledge of Bola Ige’s murder

Rashidi Ladoja, former governor of Oyo state, has refuted claims made by Bisi Akande, a former governor of Osun state, linking him to the case of Bola Ige’s assassination.

Ige, who was the attorney-general of the federation under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, was shot dead in his home on 23 December 2001.

The circumstances surrounding his murder remain unresolved, with repeated calls for justice over the years.

Speaking in an interview with Edmund Obilo, Akande suggested that Ladoja might have important information about Ige’s killing.

He alleged that Ige was killed by the government and described his death as a “state murder” — but never affirmed a specific person who murdered the latter.

Akande claimed Ladoja withdrew a case related to the murder that had initially been pursued by his predecessor, Lam Adesina.

“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, he might know more than I know do,” Akande said.

“There are many things that die with people. I know Lam Adesina went to court over the matter, and I also know his successor, (Rashidi) Ladoja, withdrew the case. Ask Ladoja; he would know more about Bola Ige’s death.”

The All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain also expressed regret that Adesina had confided in him about certain details he could no longer disclose.

Akande noted that key figures, including Adesina, the former Oyo state governor, who could have shed more light on the case, had passed away.

“Because there are many things you don’t want to tell the public. I don’t want to tell anybody. Now Bola Ige is dead, and Lam Adesina too is dead, so who will be my witness? Nobody,” he added.

‘I DIDN’T WITHDRAW THE CASE’

Addressing journalists at his residence in Ibadan, Ladoja described Akande’s claims as false.

He said that the case was pursued up to the supreme court during his tenure, and denied ever having withdrawn any charges.

“Chief Bola Ige was assassinated on December 23, 2001. I became governor on May 29, 2003, which was 18 months before my tenure began,” Punch quoted Akande as saying.

“I didn’t withdraw the case; my government didn’t withdraw any case. The case was even prosecuted till apex court, Chief Akande lied against me. This is not the first time people said he lied; someone like Baba Adebanjo even said he lied in his book.

“We are not all happy as a result of Chief Bola Ige’s death, and we are all concerned about his death. I was very close to Chief Bola Ige while alive.”

In 2016,  former President Muhammadu Buhari ordered that the investigation into the murder be reopened, but there has been little progress since.