Lanre Latinwo, media assistant to former governor Rashidi Ladoja, has said that late Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Edo and Delta states, Alhaji AbdulAzeez Arisekola, knew his boss owns the land.
Latinwo, in a chat with Sunday Guardian, explained that his principal had been fighting for the recovery of the piece of land, which was revoked by former governor Adebayo Alao-Akala before the inauguration of the Seyi Makinde administration.
Latinwo explained further that: “There are issues between the past government and the current government. When Senator Ladoja was in government, there was a programme they did where they sold abandoned government property at GRA. He now put up a committee to look for such abandoned houses.
“There were some officials (political appointees) in government that were using more than five houses. They looked at it that this was too much for one person and reduced it to one. So, when they sold these quarters then, Ladoja bought that Quarter 316.
“When the EFCC case arose, they alleged that he bought the land with the proceeds of frauds and proceeds of government.
“Consequently, Adebayo Alao-Akala revoked the property. After 11 years, the court exonerated Ladoja that he did not steal any government money, or use shared proceeds to acquire that property. Ladoja now said he wants his land back.
“Immediately, Alao-Akala revoked the land, he gave it to Alhaji AbdulAzeez Arisekola-Alao. But I think Arisekola investigated it and discovered that the land belonged to Senator Ladoja and didn’t want to fight his brother. He now gave it to Ajimobi. The former governor started building a house on it and he annexed other adjoining plots. That’s why they are mentioning Chief Ladoja.
“When Ajimobi was in government, Chief Ladoja had said he would retrieve his land. Nobody wants to be cheated. Even before the Makinde-led government did what it did, Ladoja had taken the matter to court. The present Commissioner for Lands was the personal counsel to Ladoja on the matter.”
“But Ladoja and Ajimobi were said to have ignited rivalry on the ownership of the land immediately Ladoja got discharged and acquitted from the trial over money laundering by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, last year.
