In a statement issued on Saturday by his media aide, Steve Oliyide, Gbenga Daniel alleged that officials from the state government pasted notices of contravention, quit, and threat of demolition on his Sagamu residence, The Asoludero Court, Conference Hotels Limited, and its annexe on Friday, August 8, around 4 p.m.
According to the notices, the properties allegedly violated provisions of the Ogun State Urban and Regional Planning Law of 2022. Daniel dismissed the claims as “ludicrous,” noting that the buildings were erected long before the law existed.
The former governor said, “The documents, concerning these properties cite ‘suspected’ offences related to construction without adequate permits (which is laughable).
“This is a ludicrous and flimsy excuse, as the properties in question have been in existence for many years.
“For instance, the Asoludero Court was built in 2004, while the Conference Hotel, Sagamu was built in 2013, and the Annex since 2015.
“The governor’s administration is now attempting to use the Ogun State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law No. 61 of 2022 to demolish buildings that were legally constructed long before the law was even in existence.
“This action is not only politically motivated but also a blatant disregard for due process and the rule of law. The notices in themselves are clear breaches of procedures which allow adequate time intervals.
“Notifications on contraventions, quits and the penalties, if indeed there were any, are not a demolition or a threat of it.
“Governor Abiodun’s administration has completely bypassed this procedure, issuing a ‘Notice of Contravention’ and a ‘Notice to Quit’ simultaneously, with an immediate threat of demolition.
“This is not a legal process; it is a thuggish tactic designed to intimidate and inflict damage.”
Daniel linked the threat to last year’s midnight demolition of DATKEM Plaza in Ijebu Ode, which is owned by his wife and is still the subject of ongoing litigation.
He urged Nigerians and rights groups to condemn what he called “an egregious abuse of power.”
The former governor said, “We recall with disgust the illegal demolition of DATKEM Plaza Ijebu Ode, a property belonging to the wife of Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Yeye Olufunke Daniel in the midnight of September, 2023 by thugs believed to be working on the orders of the governor as no government agent will be sent on such assignment at ungodly hours of the night, even on a weekend on equally flimsy excuses.
“The matter is currently in court, and the state has already lost several applications at the Ogun State High Court and another at the Court of Appeal in Ibadan, a clear indication that their actions lack legal merit”
Reacting, Governor Abiodun’s Special Adviser on Media, Kayode Akinmade, denied targeting Daniel, insisting the state was verifying building approvals.
“Most of them have violated building plans, and the letter was not sent to him alone, and that is not true”, he said.
“And if your papers are genuine, why is he panicking?
“Nobody is after anybody, the government is only taking stock of buildings with similar violations and that is all.
“Although, we are working on a comprehensive statement that we would also send to you when it is ready.”
© 2025 Naijaonpoint, a division of NOP Media Inc. Contact us via [email protected]