Oyo State Government officials on Monday appeared before an Ibadan High Court on the demolished Fresh FM Studio on Sunday, as a mild drama ensued when Counsel of the Government told the Court that the State knew nothing about the demolished building located along the Toll-gate-challenge road, Ibadan.
The said building which was demolished belonging to the popular singer Mr. Ayefele was said to worth N800million, and the Oyo State Government after only issuing a three days letter, pulled down the building alleging right of way.
While the Counsel to the Oyo State Government was telling the court that the Government knew nothing about the demolition, it is already on record that the Government official has released a statement and also speaking to Television Stations on how they carried out the demolition exercise which they said is on the right-of-way and goes in contrary to the City plan and that Yinka Ayefele’s studio housing Fresh FM was not the only building marked for demolition.
The head of Physical planning in Oyo State Mr. Waheed Gbadamosi had earlier denied giving just three days notice, as all efforts made to make Yinka Ayefele and his company to regularise its building plan failed and they tried to frustrate the process and violates the building laws of the state in their favour.
The Oyo State Government officials which had representatives from Ministry of Planning, Communication, and Strategy, Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Information, Culture, and Tourism all said the building violates the approved plan and have extended the approved building plan of 11.925m by 10.20m to 29.7m by 21.6m.
The Oyo State Government also refuted the claims of the demolition having a political undertone, saying nothing as such, as they were only following due process, if not the station will not be airing even after demolition.
The statement from the government said during the visit that the building encroached into the sight distance of the Y junction along Lagelu Estate, stressing that a canteen, toilets, store, and powerhouse which were not in the plan submitted were attached to the wall fence.
The Special Adviser noted that the mast erected and staircase on site was not included in the plan submitted, noting that the basement of the plan which was meant for car park was also converted.
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said that a letter was sent to Music House on June 29 to submit a fresh building plan application that will reflect the existing structures on site and regularise the anomalies, noting that the owners deliberately ignored the letter as there was no response until demolition notices were sent on August 13.
He reiterated that the government’s action was not based on sentiments or witch-hunting, saying that contravention notices were served to different organizations in the state since June 14, 2017, including all radio stations.
He said:
“On May 19, 2017, letters demanding for planning approval were sent to various institutions including University College Hospital, Kola Daisi University, University of Ibadan and other institutions and organisations,” he said.
“On June 14, 2017, request for approval was sent to Music House and 22 other radio stations in Oyo State.
“On August 18, 2017 reminder Letter was sent to Music House and the letter was received by Adebisi Akinkunmi. On August 25, 2017, we went a step further to send a letter to the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) titled Operation of Radio Stations without Physical Planning permit/Approval in Oyo State.
“A few months later, precisely November 27, 2017, another letter was sent to NBC complaining about Physical Planning Law and Regulations by the Radio station owners, developers, and operators.
“We got a response from NBC on December 4, 2017, and NBC said that the issue is outside its mandate. This is to show that the action of the state government is not to witch-hunt anyone as we even reported the radio stations to NBC. We also wrote to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on some banks contravening the Oyo State Physical Planning and Development Control laws, sections 30, 31 and 32 of the Oyo State Physical Planning and Urban Development Law of 2012.
“Music House submitted a building plan on June 14, 2018, which necessitated the joint inspection visit we carried out on June 25, 2018. It was discovered that it was meant to be an office complex and not a radio station among some other infractions including a building size measured 29.7 meters by 21.6 metres on the ground as against the 11.925metres by 10.20metres in the survey plan/building plan submitted by Music House.”
In a radical contrast to the explanation at the media conference, the state government denied demolishing the Music House at the law court.
The state government, through its counsel, Yomi Alliyu, made the denial before Justice Iyabo Yerima of the State High Court, Ring Road, Ibadan, on Monday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr. Alliyu appeared for both Abiola Ajimobi and Bola Abimbola, the governor, and attorney-general of Oyo State, respectively.
Ajimobi and Abimbola are the first and second defendants in a case instituted by Mr. Ayefele against the defendants.
The counsel said his clients were shocked to read about the reported demolition on Sunday morning.
According to him, the state government is planning to set up a panel of enquiry to find out those responsible for the demolition.
“My clients are men of honour that respect rule of law and constituted authority and will have no reason to demolish the said property,” he told the court.
NAN reports that Mr. Alliyu, who had earlier denied that his clients were served with court processes, quickly reversed himself when the judge showed him evidence of actual service on the first and second respondents.
The defence counsel, however, urged the court to adjourn the case pending the time the claimant would be able to file and serve his clients with notice of the ex- parte motion since the court was on vacation.
He said that filing of motion on notice and letter of urgency alone by the claimant was not enough.
But Mr. Ayefele ’s counsel, Olayinka Bolanle, informed the court that the respondents had gone ahead to demolish the structure in spite of a court restraining order.
He said, “Even after the defendants had become aware of this proceedings, it is sad and unbelievable my Lord that the defendants in the wee hours of Sunday, August 19, went to the property in dispute and demolished it.”
The claimant ’s counsel urged the court to reiterate its earlier order restraining the defendants from further demolition of the rest of the structure pending the determination of the suit.
Mr. Yerima adjourned the case until September 12 for the hearing of applications and urged parties to file necessary processes before the adjourned date.
Source: NAN