Controversy as Ogun govt demolished building owned by Daniel’s wife

Amid the controversy that has greeted the demolition of DATKEM Plaza, ijebu-ode, owned by Mrs. Olufunke Daniel, the wife of former Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel (OGD), the Ogun state government has given reason behind the action.

ValidViewNetwork learnt that the demolition of the 5-storey building was carried out around 3am on Sunday by officials of the state government.

In a video seen online, former governor Daniel now senator representing Ogun East at the national assembly visited the site of the demolition.

The over N1bn investment which was to serve as senatorial office of OGD among others was to be commission later this month.

While many have described the state government action as a political vendetta, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Engr. Olayiwola Abiodun said the structure violated the building codes of the state with numerous defects.

In a statement on Sunday, Engr. Abiodun claimed that the developers ignored several government efforts to halt further construction, including requests for structural assessments.

Abiodun challenged the owners to produce evidence of government approval and highlighted the legal requirements for commercial buildings, including parking space and stage certification.

According to the statement, DATKEM Enterprises Limited submitted an application for an office building, located along Ibadan Road, Ijebu Ode in 2009 with registration number CB/05/299/2009.

“The proposal was for five (5) floors with airspace of 3 metres at the right, 5m at the left, 5metres at the rear and a setback of 32.5516 metres to the middle of Ijebu Ode/Ibadan road, Ijebu-Ode.

“The Zonal Town Planning Office observed during routine monitoring that the construction on site did not conform with the plan granted as there was a deviation from the airspaces and setback.

“In addition, the building had been modified and enlarged with an additional storey building at the back thereby becoming over density.

“In view of the above, the following actions were taken:

ADVERTISEMENT

“Contravention Notice with Serial No. 0106983 was served on 24th May 2022.

“Stop Work Order with Serial No. 000623 was served on 24th May 2022.

“Another Stop Work Order with Serial No. 001065 was served on 22nd July 2022 when the first notice was ignored.

“Demolition Notice with Serial No. 0007549 was served on 11th October 2022.

“Notice to seal with Serial No. 000815 was served on 4th October 2022.”

The statement noted further that despite all these notices, the developer was recalcitrant and continued with the construction work.

“This prompted the re-sealing of the site on 1st August, 2023. But the sealing did not stop the developer from further construction as work continued on the site.

“However, the developer wrote an appeal for unsealing, which was considered so as to evacuate the belongings in the premises. Thereafter, quit notice with Serial No. 0030750 was served on 31st August, 2023.

Mrs Daniel slams Ogun state government of executive recklessness

Meanwhile, Mrs Olufunke Daniel has slammed the state government for the demolition of DATKEM plaza, describing the action as “executive recklessness, lawlessness, and irresponsibility.”

Reacting, through her lawyer, Adeyinka Kotoye, SAN, of Page Law office, Mrs Daniel condemned the government for ‘illegality, “unimaginable and huge losses” inflicted on her through the demolition.

In a statement signed by the legal firm, she lamented that the government ignored court papers served on its agents to abort the alleged unlawful actions on the structure.

The statement noted that the government ignored court papers “served on its agents on Thursday, September 7, asking them to stop all actions on the building.”

The statement reads, “I want to believe that the Ogun state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, was not informed of this illegality. But if he was informed and still decided to use the instruments of the State against our clients, it is nothing but executive recklessness. But, we will continue to fight for justice and ensure that our clients are.

“This matter began when the Ogun State Planning and Development Authority scaled the building on August 1 without any prior notice. Interestingly, a quit notice was only served on August 31 by the same Planning and Development Authority asking the owner to vacate the premises within three days.