N500m: Ajimobi, Ladoja disagree over refund to EFCC

The Oyo State Accord Party has vowed to sue the Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi after picking holes in a publication in the national dailies (not The PUNCH), where Ajimobi alleged that former governor of the state, Rashidi Ladoja, refunded N500m to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.

A statement by Adeolu Adeleke, who is the Director General, Senator Ladoja Campaign Organisation 2015, said the allegation was made by Ajimobi while speaking with newsmen in Ibadan.

But the state governor, through the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Olalekan Alli, insisted that Ladoja indeed refunded the said amount to the EFCC in addition to some vehicles.

The statement by Adeleke read, “This statement by Ajimobi is not only false, but a figment of his imagination, deliberately targeted at rubbishing the credibility of Ladoja. We boldly affirm that Ladoja, at no time, refunded any amount to either the coffers of the EFCC or the Oyo State Government, and there was no plea bargain of any sort between Senator Ladoja and the EFCC.

“In the light of the above, Ladoja has accordingly directed his legal team to institute a legal action against Ajimobi for libel as soon as the courts are reopened.”

On Tuesday, Ajimobi, through Alli, said, “Ladoja’s denial of his refund of Oyo State’s stolen loot is not only regrettable, but lamentable. The general public will recall that in 2008, Ladoja was embroiled in allegation of theft of proceeds from shares belonging to the state government, which he converted to personal use.

“He was subsequently arrested and detained by the EFCC. Ladoja returned the sum of N500m to the EFCC, which thereafter drew a cheque later collected by the state government.”