By Our Correspondent
Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun has allegedly demolished the DATKEM Plaza, owned by Yeye Olufunke Daniel, wife of former governor, Sen Gbenga Daniel, after collecting 500,000 for unsealing fee.
According to the Project Manager and Developer for the building, Olusegun Lawal, government officials demolished the five-story building located at Folagbade Street, Ijebu-Ode, at 3:00 a.m. on Sunday.
In a statement on Sunday, Lawal said that the building, which had been under construction since 2009, had the full approval from the state government and was scheduled for commissioning by the end of September before the demolition.
The project manager said the building had no structural or quality issues that would warrant demolition, adding that the third floor of the now-demolished building was to house the Ogun East Senatorial Office.
It was reports that rumours had made rounds that Abiodun and Daniel were reportedly at loggerheads.
While speaking with the people of Ijebu Ode, Lawal said the demolition was “very shocking, very cruel and a heinous act committed by someone who is supposed to be saving our lives and properties; by somebody who is supposed to protect the rule of law in this state.”
He added that as the building developer, everything that was required from state government officials was done; therefore, the demolition was shocking.
Lawal said: “We’ve done what was needful from our side regarding this project. They complained of contravention, and we made amendments to the approval, submitted last year. This is a building that’s almost two years now. Every query raised, we answered them.
“When they partially sealed us, they asked us to pay an unsealing fee of half a million (N500,000), which I paid. They received it, and the next thing they did was to give us a letter in which they said within 24 hours, the amendment submitted doesn’t confirm".
According to the Project Manager and Developer for the building, Olusegun Lawal, government officials demolished the five-story building located at Folagbade Street, Ijebu-Ode, at 3:00 a.m. on Sunday.
In a statement on Sunday, Lawal said that the building, which had been under construction since 2009, had the full approval from the state government and was scheduled for commissioning by the end of September before the demolition.
The project manager said the building had no structural or quality issues that would warrant demolition, adding that the third floor of the now-demolished building was to house the Ogun East Senatorial Office.
It was reports that rumours had made rounds that Abiodun and Daniel were reportedly at loggerheads.
While speaking with the people of Ijebu Ode, Lawal said the demolition was “very shocking, very cruel and a heinous act committed by someone who is supposed to be saving our lives and properties; by somebody who is supposed to protect the rule of law in this state.”
He added that as the building developer, everything that was required from state government officials was done; therefore, the demolition was shocking.
Lawal said: “We’ve done what was needful from our side regarding this project. They complained of contravention, and we made amendments to the approval, submitted last year. This is a building that’s almost two years now. Every query raised, we answered them.
“When they partially sealed us, they asked us to pay an unsealing fee of half a million (N500,000), which I paid. They received it, and the next thing they did was to give us a letter in which they said within 24 hours, the amendment submitted doesn’t confirm".
The government, in a statement signed by 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.
Engr. Olayiwola explained that Ogun State Planning and Development Permit Authority observed during routine monitoring that the construction on site does not confirm with the Approval granted as there is a deviation from the airspaces and setback.
He said, the building had been modified and enlarged with additional storey building at the back there by becoming over density..
In view of the above, the following actions were taken; 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. Stop work Order with serial No. 001065 was served on 22nd July, 2022.
Demolition Notice with serial No. 0007549 was served on 11th October, 2022. Notice to seal with serial 000815was served on 4th October, 2022.
Despite the actions taken, the developer was recalcitrant and continued the construction work on site.
He said, this prompted the sealing of the site on the 1st of August, 2023. But the sealing of the Site does not stop the developer from further construction as work continued on the site.
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