Former governor of Oyo State, Rashidi Ladoja, has threatened to sue the incumbent Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, for claiming that he refunded N500m stolen money to the state coffers through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as reported by a national on Monday.
A statement signed by Adeolu Adeleke, who is the Director General, Senator Ladoja Campaign Organisation 2015, said Ajimobi made the allegation while speaking with newsmen in Ibadan.
But the state governor, through the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Olalekan Alli, insisted that Ladoja indeed returned the said amount as well as vehicles he allegedly procured with graft proceeds to the state through the EFCC.
Ajimobi said, “Ladoja’s shameless denial of his refund of Oyo State’s stolen loot is not only regrettable, but lamentable. His brazen denial in the face of overwhelming evidence reflects what led to the lack of trust in this country.”
“The public will recall that in 2008, Ladoja was embroiled in allegation of theft of proceeds from shares belonging to the government, which he “converted” to personal use. He was subsequently arrested and detained by the EFCC.”
“The former governor returned N500 million to the EFCC which thereafter issued a cheque later collected by the government.”
“Government thus immediately opened an account to cater for this repatriated Ladoja loot tagged “Oyo State Government repatriated fund Account No. 5030048128 with Fidelity Bank, Jimoh Odutola Road, Ibadan.”
“In its quest to use the refunded money to develop the state, N449, 070,155.89 was thus paid to the contractor handling the construction of model schools in the state.”
“In a statement he wrote on August 8, 2008, Ladoja explained how the shares’ fund was spent.”
“However, in a paper personally written by Ladoja and provided by Chief Olawale Atanda, who was his ‘official cashier,’ the former governor spelt out how he spent the proceeds of the Oyo State money. He shared the money among his wife, himself, children and cronies.”
“While investigation was ongoing, the EFCC recovered some money from Ladoja in that same year. Indeed, the money was paid to the commission through bank drafts (issued by Ladoja).”
Gov. Ajimobi had on Monday, revealed that, indeed, Senator Ladoja returned N500 million to the EFCC which, thereafter, drew a cheque later collected by the state government.
Ladoja, who is the governorship candidate of Accord Party in Oyo State, for the February 28, 2015 election, had, through an advertorial in a national newspaper on Tuesday, denied allegations that he refunded N500million, allegedly stolen from the state’s treasury.
The governor, therefore, urged journalists to re-investigate the matter by crosschecking the facts and evidences presented by the government with the EFCC.
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