The former governor of Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja has dared the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) saying he was not ready to refund the money he was alleged to have stolen because he did not take anything from the state’s coffers when he served as governor between 2003 and2007.
It would be recalled that an EFCC investigator, Abubakar Madaki, had recently testified against the former governor at the Federal High Court in Lagos that Ladoja 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 resolution.
The witness said the money allegedly went to Ladoja, his family and friends but the former governor, however, denied stealing the state fund while in office.
Speaking in his Ibadan country home, Ladoja 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.”
He added: “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.”
