Bola Ige’s Murder: Ladoja Denies Knowledge, Involvement, Threatens To Sue Bisi Akande

By Ayodele Oni

Accusations and counter accusations continue, almost, 25 years after the gruesome murder of a sitting Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Bola Ige, SAN, with some of those, accused of knowing something about the incident, trying to exonerate themselves.

One of them, a former governor of Oyo state, Rashidi Ladoja has vehemently denied, saying that he knew nothing about the incident.

An ally of the late Attorney General and former Governor of Osun state, Chief Bisi Akande, had, in an interview with a renowned broadcaster, Edmund Obilo, in Ibadan,  described Ige’s murder as a “State murder.” He said Ige was killed by the Government, probably the Government he served under.

Akande, in the interview, also alleged that Ladoja, that succeeded late Lam Adesina as Oyo state Governor, should know something about the death of Ige because it was him that withdrew the court case filled by his predecessor to unravel Ige’s death.

Akande stated that Ladoja should be asked why and/or what happened, and emphasized that Ladoja would know more about Ige’s murder.

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

Ladoja has now replied Akande’s allegation with a threat to go to court, insisting that he did not obstruct Justice in Ige’s case.

Ladoja, now a traditional title holder in Ibadan, as Otun Olubadan refuted claims by Akande, regarding his alleged involvement in the unresolved assassination case of former Attorney General.

He maintained that he had provided full support to the prosecution, even up to the Supreme Court.

Ladoja dismissed Akande’s claims, insisting he did not know the case beyond publicly available information and warned that he would consider all possible actions, including legal steps unless Akande retracts his statement and issues a public apology.

“Chief Bola Ige was assassinated December 23rd, 2001, I got to government on 29th of May, 2003 which was 18 months after the assassination of Chief Bola Ige.

“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.”