Former governor of Oyo State and the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, on Monday, asked the former Osun State governor Bisi Akande to retract his accusatory remark on him and tender a public apology over the latter’s controversial comments on the murder of ex-Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Bola Ige. Ladoja vs. Akande

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Ladoja, who addressed journalists at his apartment on Ondo Street in Bodija in Ibadan, said Akande must withdraw his charges and apologise or be ready to face legal procedures.

“All options will be taken, including legal action against Akande except he withdraws his statement and tenders a public apology,” Ladoja stated,

Recall that in a recent podcast by ace journalist, Edmund Obilo, which was made public at the weekend, indicated that Ladoja possibly knows critical information on Bola Ige’s murder.

Ige was murdered on December 23, 2001 at his Bodija mansion in Ibadan and the case has yet to be resolved 24 years after.

Reflecting on the tragedy in his interview with Obilo, octogenarian Akande, who was Osun governor at the time of the murder, ruefully remarked that crucial players who might have provided further light on the issue, including a former Oyo State governor, Lam Adesina, had died.

He stated that Ladoja discontinued a case filed by Lam Adesina, attempting to unmask Ige’s murderer.

“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 lawsuit. Ask Ladoja, he would know more about Bola Ige’s death,” Akande said.

“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 additional knowledge on Bola Ige’s death,” Akande insisted.However, addressing the claim on Monday, Ladoja accused Akande of muddling up facts and lying against him, hinting that Akande might be suffering from old-age memory loss.

Ladoja added, “Chief Bola Ige was assassinated on December 23, 2001 — 18 months before I got to the office. I got the government on May 29, 2003, and Chief Ige was slain on December 23, 2001, which was 18 months before I went to office. “I didn’t withdraw the case. My government didn’t withdraw any case. The matter was even prosecuted up to the top court. Chief Akande lied against me and he is old. This is not his first time. People think he lies; someone like Baba (Ayo) Adebanjo even said he lied in his book.

Further contradicting Akande’s tale, Ladoja said he had nothing to gain from obstructing the probe in Ige’s murder, noting they were close during his live.

He stated, “We are not all happy about Ige’s death. We are all concerned about his passing. I was quite close to Chief Bola Ige while he was alive.

“I did nothing to harm the delivery of justice on the assassination case of Bola Ige. I didn’t withdraw the case. My government didn’t withdraw any case.

“I don’t know what information Baba Akande believes I could have that he didn’t have. All the information I also had was not different from what I heard from social media.

“If you look at the period the book itself was launched, the people close to Baba Akande, like Adebanjo, said Baba Akande lied in most of what he said in the book. I received that from the social media. Maybe this is one of the lies also, but sadly, he did not write it in the book. Maybe, he crumbled under the torrent of questioning from Edmund Obilo, who interrogated him. Maybe Baba is getting too elderly to recollect what happened that time. I am claiming definitely that Baba Akande lied against me in his interview.”

Ladoja said instead of seeking to entangle him into Ige’s murder narrative, Akande should be bold enough to expose the secret that he knows.

“The case was already in court before I came in. It was investigated. I was quite close to Chief Bola Ige. In reality, when I was to contest in 1999, Chief Bola Ige had summoned me to come and contest before Lam Adesina was given the seat. How then would I know about his death and would not be the one shouting from the rooftop or why will I be delighted that investigation into the murder should be suppressed?

“Instead of maligning me, Baba Akande, who said that there are many things he knows that he cannot tell the public, should be asked to disclose them. He suggested the murder was a state murder and that government was behind it. If he was governor of Osun State then but claimed he did not know who removed the cap from Bola Ige’s head, yet he could know what happened in Oyo State, then, he must be lying. He stated Lam Adesina told him numerous things, which he would not want to expose to the public because both Lam Adesina and Chief Bola Ige are deceased. Then how can he support his allegation if he cannot state it?”

Ladoja closed by demanding a public apology from Akande, saying that he will sue.

“All options will be taken, including legal action against Akande except he withdraws his statement and tenders a public apology,” Ladoja said.