By Abigail Philip David
Former Oyo State Governor and Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, on Tuesday dismissed claims by former Osun State Governor Chief Bisi Akande regarding his handling of Chief Bola Ige’s case. Speaking at his Ondo Street residence in Ibadan, Ladoja emphatically stated, “Chief Akande lied against me.”
The dispute arose after Akande recently raised concerns about the unresolved assassination of Chief Bola Ige—Nigeria’s former Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice—implying that Ladoja might have key information on the case.
Ladoja clarified that Chief Ige was assassinated on December 23, 2001, which was 18 months before he took office on May 29, 2003. “I didn’t withdraw the case. My government didn’t withdraw any case. In fact, the case was prosecuted all the way to the Supreme Court,” he explained.
Further questioning Akande’s credibility, Ladoja added, “Chief Akande lied against me, and he is old. This isn’t his first time; people say he lies. Even Baba Adebanjo mentioned his dishonesty in his book.”
He concluded by expressing deep sorrow over Ige’s death and reaffirming his personal closeness to the late Chief Bola Ige, emphasizing that the tragedy remains a profound concern for all.
