Former Oyo State governor, Rashidi Ladoja, is demanding a sum of N10 billion as damages from Oyo State governor, Abiola Ajimobi, for claiming that the ex-governor returned N500 million to the coffers of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission as part of the funds he (Ladoja) misappropriate while in office.
In a letter addressed to Ajimobi and signed by Ladoja’s solicitor, Abiodun Abdul-Raheem, and dated January 14, 2015, the former governor demanded an apology and a retraction of the publication in national dailies, while also raising questions over the governor’s motive for maligning his personality.
The letter titled, ‘Re: Oyo State publication in the Nigerian Tribune of January 14, 2015 at pages 10, 11 and 12 and the Nation Newspaper at pages 7, 56 and 57 captioned N500 million EFCC refund by Ladoja: Face of Ladoja, the serial liar- demand N10bn damages, retraction and apology’, made attempt to establish Ladoja’s innocence.
It also pointed out the holes identified in the allegation.
Part of the letter read, “For the umpteenth time, our client denies in its entirety the allegation by your government that he (Ladoja) made the refund as alleged or at all to the EFCC. Our client demands of you to make available any document directly tending to show that he made such payments and for the purpose alleged, i.e., plea bargaining.
“We reiterate that none of the documents published so far substantiates the fact that our client is directly involved in the allegation. We wish to note that going by the contents of your letters exhibited in the said publications, i.e., September 6, 2013; November, 2013; November 26, 2013 and January 9, 2014.
“There is nothing to show that as of January 10, 2014, when the last letter was said to have been received by the EFCC and till date that your request for “revalidation”, “repatriation” and “release” as variously requested by your government in your said letters have been acceded to or granted by the EFCC.
“We also note that all the aforementioned letters are at your instance and none was at the instance of the EFCC in order to know that any of your requests was granted at all. Could it have been that the non-inclusion of the EFCC’s letters was a deliberate act or omission on the part of government?
“Your Excellency, we have the authority of our client to specifically request you to produce to the reading public the paper, where our client “spelt out how he spent the proceeds of Oyo State money”, particularly the shares of his wives, children, cronies and himself. Take notice sir, that failure to act as requested above, we have the instruction of our client to seek redress in court.”
In his reaction, Adedayo said, “We will meet him in court. The world will soon know the quality that many Nigerian leaders are made of. Shortly, we will reveal the real Ladoja to the whole world.”
Speaking on behalf of the government, Special Adviser to Governor Ajimobi on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo, said the government was prepared to meet Ladoja in court over the allegation.
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