The Ogun State Government has demolished a plaza in Ijebu Ode, allegedly owned by Mrs Olufunke Daniel, the wife of former governor Otunba Gbenga Daniel. The government claimed that the plaza was an illegal structure that violated the state’s building codes and physical planning laws.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Olayiwola Abiodun, the government had made several attempts to stop further development on the site, but the developers ignored them. He also said that the government had asked the structural engineer in charge of the building to assess its structural stability, but the request was not complied with.
Abiodun said that the government partially pulled down the defective building to prevent any possible collapse that could endanger lives. He challenged the owners of the structure to produce any evidence of government approval for the building.
The statement added that the government was committed to ensuring the safety of its citizens and would not hesitate to demolish any defective buildings in any part of the state.
However, Mrs Daniel, through her lawyer, Kotoye PAGE Law, condemned the demolition as an act of executive recklessness and vandalism. She said that her plaza, known as DATKEM Plaza, had been sealed by the Ogun State Planning and Development Authority on August 31, 2023, with a three-day notice to vacate the premises.
She said that she had appealed for the unsealing of the building and paid a fine of N500,000 to the state government. She expressed shock and dismay that the government ignored the ongoing legal process and went ahead to demolish the complex in the early hours of Sunday.
She said that she believed that Governor Dapo Abiodun was not aware of this illegality, but if he was, then it was a clear case of abuse of power. She vowed to continue to seek justice in court until her rights were restored.
The project manager and developer of the plaza, Olusegun Lawal, also refuted the government’s claims that the building was illegal and defective. He said that the construction of the building started in 2009 with full approval from the relevant authorities. He said that there was no contravention or violation of any building codes or laws as far as the project was concerned.
He also said that there were no structural defects in the building and that it was built with high-quality materials and standards. He said that he was surprised that the government gave only a three-day notice for demolition, without giving any opportunity for dialogue or verification. He said that he would pursue legal action against the government for this injustice.
