Former Gov Ladoja Denies Stealing State's Funds

A former Governor of Oyo State, Senator Rasidi Ladoja on Friday explained why he could not refund money to the coffer of the Economic Financial and Crime Commission (EFCC) over his alleged misappropriation of state’s funds while in office between 2003 and 2007.

He said he did not steal state’s funds and it won't be reasonable for anybody to expect him to refund money he did not steal.


An EFCC investigator, Abubakar Madaki, had recently testified against the former governor at the Federal High Court in Lagos that the former governor gave instructions in 2007 that the shares of the state which worth N6.6 billion, be sold at discounted rates without the Executive Council’s (Exco’s) resolution.


The witness said the money allegedly went to Ladoja, his family and friends but Ladoja however denied stealing of state’s funds while in office.


Ladoja who spoke with reporters at his Ibadan country home after he observed this year Eid-el-fitri said "it was true that i did not return any money to the purse of the anti-graft agency because I did not steal state's money."


Ladoja said: "Why would I refund money when I did not steal any money? I am not bordered. It is true that EFCC said I didn't refund money. This is because I did not steal any money. The man (witness) said Ladoja has not refunded any money and he didn't say the amount Ladoja has stolen that has to be refunded.


"He said EFCC has recovered money from other people but it has not recovered any money from Ladoja, so why must I be worried. I have not refunded any money as he said. As far as I am concern, there is no case there."

From dailytrust