Daniel cites political undertone, set for legal battle over Ogun demolition plans
Fie photo: Senator Gbenga Daniel
Media aide to former Ogun State governor and Senator representing Ogun East, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Mr. Steve Oliyide, said on Monday that court action may be taken against the state government over its plan to demolish Daniel’s private residence — Asoludero Court in Sagamu GRA — as well as Conference Hotels and its annex, also owned by the former governor.
Oliyide claimed that Governor Dapo Abiodun lacked the moral right to serve a contravention order on anyone in Ogun State, saying the governor’s private residence along the Iperu–Ode Road “also runs foul of setback rules on the highway and should have been the first property to go down in the state for the infraction.”
He described the demolition threat as “clear political persecution and witch-hunting” and vowed it would be resisted “within the ambit of the law.”
Oliyide insisted that the senator’s properties in Sagamu GRA have “requisite approvals” on record with the state government.
“Yet the government is claiming ignorance because of its ulterior motive to attack the former governor for no just cause,” he said.
Asking for the intervention of President Bola Tinubu, Oliyide warned: “The whole action is even against the 2022 Urban and Regional Law of the state which they are quoting to back their dirty and sordid job. Which part of this law says that it is the same day that you serve the contravention notice that you must also serve the quit notice which says that the properties would be demolished after three days?
“We are even asking for the contraventions they are talking about but there is none. All that they were talking about were based on suspicion, yet no new construction is going on in any of these properties.
“Even if the government had suspected anything, the right thing to do is for the government to give us a demand notice and tell us to furnish them with relevant information on those areas of suspicion within a stipulated time, which we would have gladly complied with.”
Oliyide argued that claims the properties were built without permission were false.
“For God’s sake, when you want to build in the country, you will have your architectural designs, engineering designs — particularly if it will be a storey building — and you will submit five copies of these documents to the government. The relevant agency, like the Town Planning, will do the stamping and return two copies to you while the government keeps three copies.
“Even if the government had suspected anything, the right thing to do is for the government to give us a demand notice and tell us to furnish them with relevant information on those areas of suspicion within a stipulated time, which we would have gladly complied with.”
Oliyide argued that claims the properties were built without permission were false.
“For God’s sake, when you want to build in the country, you will have your architectural designs, engineering designs — particularly if it will be a storey building — and you will submit five copies of these documents to the government. The relevant agency, like the Town Planning, will do the stamping and return two copies to you while the government keeps three copies.
“So the question is, where are the three copies in the government’s custody? It is dereliction of duty and sheer irresponsibility if the government now claims it does not have the record. I have proof that we have our approvals, everything duly numbered, but we won’t help the government with its responsibility in the meantime, pending when our lawyers will do their jobs,” he further stated.
He noted that while the government claims the move is part of a “land audit” of the GRA, demolition should not be the first step.
“We are repeating, this is political persecution. In a GRA of over 2,000 houses, you are only interested in Otunba Gbenga Daniel’s house built as far back as 2004, the Conference Hotels, and the annex.
“If it is about land auditing you must have advertised it ahead, but this one is starting and ending with the properties of Otunba Gbenga Daniel, regardless of other cosmetic posting notices they claim to have done. It is obvious that Otunba Gbenga Daniel is the target here.
“With this action, Gov Abiodun is creating confusion in the state because, in terms of documentation, we always think that houses and land in the GRA are the safest.
“What about Gov Abiodun’s house on the Iperu–Ode Road? Where is the setback? I also want to see a contravention notice served on Gov Dapo Abiodun’s house. If he hasn’t done that, he has no moral responsibility to serve anybody’s notices of contravention in Ogun State.
Oliyide compared the dispute to the 2023 demolition of the DATKEM building in Ijebu Ode, owned by Daniel’s wife, Yeye Olufunke Daniel, a case in which the governor “was defeated up to the Appeal Court,” he concluded.
He expressed confidence Abiodun would “also suffer defeat” in what he called the governor’s “new pursuit of political vendetta.”
When contacted, Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Mr. Kayode Akinmade, said: “This is a government thing, we are working on the response and you will have it soon.”
Oliyide later informed journalists that shortly after the press briefing, state government officials came to remove the notices earlier served on the properties.
Meanwhile, PUNCH Online reported over the weekend that there has been a sustained back-and-forth between allies of Daniel and the camp of Abiodun, with both sides trading accusations over the planned demolition.
While Daniel’s team insists the move is politically motivated and targeted, the governor’s camp maintains it is a regulatory action under state planning laws, setting the stage for an escalating public and legal battle.
