Ogun State High Court sitting in Sagamu has restrained the State Government and its agents from demolishing or tampering with property belonging to former governor Gbenga Daniel.
The order, granted ex parte, followed an affidavit of urgency filed by the claimants, Daniel and his wife, Yeye Olufunke Daniel.
Daniel, through his lawyer, A.M. Kotoye, SAN, filed a motion seeking an ex parte order restraining the defendants—Governor Dapo Abiodun; the Attorney-General of Ogun State; the Ogun State Planning and Development Permit Authority; and the Ogun State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development—in three separate suits from tampering with the Asoludero Court, a property belonging to Daniel’s wife in Sagamu, and the Conference Hotel and Blue Chapel Limited.
The former governor and his wife, who were applicants in the suits marked HCS/371/2025, HCS/373/2025 and HCS/372/2025 respectively, sought the order of the court restraining the defendants and their agents or allies from demolishing or tampering with Asoludero Court, situated on Block 1, Plots 7 & 8 of Block XXXVIII, Plot 1 & 12, within the amended part of the Government Reservation Area; Daniel’s wife’s property; and the Conference Hotel, Sagamu.
Daniel, in the suit, claimed that the property has a Certificate of Occupancy No. LUD3/LR2693, dated 20 January 2010.
Counsel to the applicants, Adeyinka Kotoye SAN, moved the ex parte motion dated 11 August and filed on the same date before the court.
In the ruling, Justice O.S. Oloyede said the court needed to take immediate action on the suits, having read all the affidavits in support and the affidavits of urgency, to intervene in the cases.
The court further restrained the defendants and other agents from tampering with any of the properties.
The suit has been adjourned to August 19, 2025, for the hearing of the application for an interlocutory injunction.
Recall that the Ogun State Government had served a quit and demolition notice on the Asoludero Court, the Conference Hotels, and its annexe in the Sagamu Government Reserved Area, belonging to the former governor.
The state government claimed that the buildings contravened the Ogun State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law No. 61 of 2022 and its subsidiary regulations.
The former governor had accused incumbent Governor Abiodun of using the Ogun State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law No. 61 of 2022 to demolish his buildings that were legally constructed before the law came into existence.
Daniel described the move as not only politically motivated but also a blatant disregard for due process and the rule of law.
But the Commissioner for Physical and Urban Development, TPL Tunji Odunlami, noted that the move was not to witch-hunt, urging the former governor to present his documents for verification and obtain clearance if he complies, or be advised to rectify any violation.
