A former governor of Oyo State, Senator Rasidi Adewolu Ladoja, has said he knows nothing about the death of a former minister of Justice and Attorney General of the federation, late Chief Bola Ige.
Recently, a former governor of Osun State, Chief Bisi Akande, raised fresh concerns about the unresolved assassination of Bola Ige, asserting that former Oyo State Governor, Rashidi Ladoja, may have vital information regarding the murder.
Akande, who spoke in an explosive interview with the ace broadcaster, Edmund Obilo, in Ibadan, lamented that key figures who might have shed more light on the case, including a former Oyo State governor, Lam Adesina, had died.
“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.
“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 said.
“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.
“I know Lam Adesina went to court on the matter and Ladoja withdrew the case from court. Ask Ladoja, he would know more about Bola Ige’s death,” he insisted.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed Ige as Minister of Mines and Power, between 1999 and 2000 and when he was not able to make significant improvements to the service provided by the monopolistic National Electric Power Authority, Ige was redeployed as Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation between 2000 and 2001.
The former minister was assassinated on December 23, 2001, at his Ibadan, Oyo State residence.
However, on Monday while addressing journalist at his residence in Ibadan, Ladoja refuted the assertion.
Ladoja said, “I don’t have any hidden knowledge about the death of Chief Bola Ige. I had no problem with Bola Ige.
“Maybe Chief Bisi Akande wants to sell his book. I don’t know. There is no correlation between by election and the death of Ige.
“He should come out and tell the public instead of maligning my image. But, all options are open. As Otun Olubadan, I am no more a politician”.
“Chief Bola Ige was assassinated on December 23, 2001. I became governor on May 29, 2003, which was 18 months before my tenure began.
“I didn’t withdraw the case, my government didn’t withdraw any case.
“The case was even prosecuted by 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.”
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