The former governor, Senator Rasidi Ladoja, has threatened legal action against the former governor of Osun State and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande, over his comment on the people responsible for the murder of the former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, the late Chief Bola Ige.
Ige was gruesomely murdered by yet-to-be apprehended assassins at his Bodija residence on December 23, 2001. Successive administrations in the country are yet to unravel the mystery surrounding his death.
However, Akande, in an exclusive interview with an Ibadan-based radio station, queried Ladoja over the rationale behind his withdrawal of the case instituted on the matter by his predecessor in office, the late Chief Lam Adesina.
He suggested that key figures who might have shed more light on the case, including a former Oyo State governor, Lam Adesina, had died, but Ladoja might have vital information regarding the murder.
But Ladoja, at a press conference at his Bodija residence on Monday, faulted Akande’s claim. He argued that Chief Bola Ige was assassinated on December 23, 2001, while he assumed office as executive governor on May 29, 2003.
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“I took office on May 29, 2003, which was 18 months after the assassination of Chief Bola Ige,” Ladoja stated.
Ladoja further explained that there was no truth in the statement credited to Akande regarding the withdrawal of the case instituted by his predecessor, Lam Adesina, on Ige’s death.
“I did nothing to harm the delivery of justice in the assassination case of Bola Ige. I didn’t withdraw the case. My government didn’t withdraw any case. The case was even prosecuted up to the apex court.”
“Chief Akande lied about me. This is not the first time people have said he lied. Someone like Baba Adebanjo even said he lied in his book.”
“We are all not happy about Chief Bola Ige’s death, and we are all concerned about it. I was very close to Chief Bola Ige while he was alive.”
Irked by the development, Ladoja stated that all options, including legal action against Akande, would be considered unless Akande withdrew his statement and tendered a public apology.
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