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From Noah Ebije, Kaduna
A Northern group, Arewa Think Tank (ATT) has intervened in the narrative by the elderstatesman, Chief Adebisi Akande that the former Oyo State governor, Chief Rashidi Ladoja, could have information about the seemingly unresolved assassination of former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Chief Bola Ige in 2001.
But Ladoja has denied the allegations made by former governor of Osun State, Adebisi Akande, threatening legal action against him.
However, Arewa Think Tank in a statement on Tuesday by its Chief Convener, Muhammad Alhaji Yakubu said the war of words between Ladoja and Akande has opened another chapter of opportunity to revisit past murder of high profile citizens of Nigeria.
The group therefore, called on President Bola Tinubu to swing into action and begin probe of similar assassination of prominent Nigerians across the country.
“Arewa Think Tank stands by Chief Adebisi Akande’s narrative. And in furtherance to this narrative, we are urging President Bola Tinubu to probe past high profile murder of senior citizens in the country, including Harry Marshall and Dokubo, among other such killings so that historical justice can be done to those affected families.
“We have it on good authority that it was Ladoja’s government that filed a Nolle Prosequi in the lower court. And that is why the case didn’t get to the Supreme court. If the case had gone to the Supreme court, it wouldn’t have died”.The statement said.
Akande had in recent interview implied that Ladoja might have crucial information about Ige’s murder. He lamented that individuals who could have provided clarity on the case, such as former Oyo State governor Lam Adesina, had passed away.
The elderstatesman suggested that Ladoja had a role in withdrawing Ige’s murder case, asserting that Adesina had pursued the matter legally before Ladoja took over as governor.
“There are many things that die with people,” Akande said. “Lam Adesina went to court over this matter, but his successor, Ladoja, withdrew the case. If you ask him, he would know more about Bola Ige’s death.”
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Akande, who served as Osun State governor at the time of Ige’s assassination, maintained that since Adesina was the chief security officer of Oyo State, he was in a better position to investigate the case.
He added that crucial conversations he had with Adesina about the case could not be disclosed. “Now that Bola Ige and Lam Adesina are both dead, who will be my witness?”. Akande said.
However, report said Ladoja dismissed Akande’s remarks as baseless and untrue. He emphasised that his administration did not interfere with the case and stated that it was pursued up to the Supreme Court.
He also clarified that he assumed office 18 months after Ige’s assassination, making any suggestion of his involvement illogical and false.
“Chief Bola Ige was murdered on December 23, 2001 while I became governor on May 29, 2003,” Ladoja stated. “Neither I nor my government withdrew the case. It was prosecuted up to the Supreme Court.
“Chief Akande has falsely accused me and this is not the first time he has been called out for making untrue statements – Baba Adebanjo even noted this in his book.”
Ladoja expressed his sorrow over Ige’s death and highlighted his close relationship with the late minister. He also issued a warning to Akande, demanding a public retraction and apology, failing which he would consider legal action.
Chief Bola Ige, chieftain of the opposition Alliance for Democracy (AD), was appointed Minister of Mines and Power by President Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999. However, after failing to achieve significant progress in Nigeria’s power sector, he was reassigned as Minister of Justice and Attorney General in 2000.
On December 23, 2001, he was assassinated at his Ibadan residence, a case that remains unresolved.
