Irate Ibadan residents besiege the demolition scene
– Oyo Government razed down structure despite court injunction
– says building contravenes state planning laws
– N28 million naira new equipment destroyed
– I obtained my building permit, approval from past govts – Ayefele
Ibadan residents including a lawmaker and a governorship aspirant on Sunday condemned Sunday’s demolition of the Music House owned by popular musician, Yinka Ayefele.
The Oyo State Government demolished the multi-million naira edifice at around 4.30am on Sunday.
The structure, located on the Challenge-Toll Gate dual carriageway in Ibadan, housed the popular Fresh FM radio station owned by the musician.
Hundreds of residents had thronged the scene wielding placards with various inscriptions criticising the state government over the exercise.
Some of the early callers at the scene of the demolished building were Mr. Seyi Makinde, a PDP governorship aspirant; and Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun, the Secretary of Unity Forum, a splinter group in the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress.
Also present at the scene was Hon. Olusegun Olaleye representing Ibadan North State Constituency in the State House of Assembly.
Ayefele
Makinde, Olatunbosun and Olaleye, however, appealed to the irate residents at the scene of the demolished structure to remain calm, urging them not to resort to self-help.
Calls made by NAN to the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun, were unsuccessful as his two cell phone lines were switched off.
The state government had marked the structure for demolition, insisting that it contravened the state’s planning laws.
But Ayefele had approached an Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan seeking to stop the planned demolition.
Ayefele’s counsel, Mr. Olayinka Bolanle, in an ex parte motion filed before the court, sought for an order of the court restraining the state government from demolishing the property pending the determination of the suit.
Bolanle also stated that due process was followed in the construction of the structure while relevant approvals were obtained from the state’s departments and agencies associated with land and housing.
Demolished Music House
Justice I. Yerima ordered the claimant to ensure service of the court process on the respondent and adjourned the case till Monday for the hearing of the exparte motion.
Oyo Government demolishes Ayefele’s radio station despite court’s injunction
The Oyo state Government had issued a three-day ultimatum to the station, claiming the construction of the station did not follow town-planning law in the state. But Ayefele had approached the court to stop the demolition.
The motion on notice received from the state high court by the Fresh FM reads in part:” an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants/respondents whether by themselves, their servants, agents, privies or any person acting pursuant to the instruction of the defendants/respondents from demolishing or attempt to demolish the property of the claimants/applicants lying, being and situate at plot 11A and 11B along link ring road to Lagos express road, Ibadan, Oyo state or in any manner proceeding to enforce the notice of demolition dated 13th August 2018 with reference No. TF20181308/002 issued by the defendants/respondents pending the determination of the substantive suit already filed.”
Our new N28 million equipment was destroyed – Director
Meanwhile, the Director of Ayefele Limited, David Ajiboye, has said the company lost equipment worth N28 million to the demolition of its office on Sunday.
He said the company has all papers required to establish a radio station in the area.
I obtained my building permit, approval from past govts– Yinka Ayefele
Ayefele
Also, the renowned Gospel artiste, Yinka Ayefele, said that he obtained the necessary documents and due approvals before he constructed his multi-million naira structure that was razed by the Oyo State Government around 4.30 on Sunday morning.
In a statement made by Ayefele and obtained by Naija247news correspondent, the musician stated that necessary building permits were obtained from government for the construction of the building.
He also called on the state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Toye Arulogun, to “refrain from misleading the public” concerning the reasons for the demolition.
Ayefele reiterated that necessary documents were obtained on the building and that a discussion relating to the establishment of a central abattoir by the state government could be behind the demolition.
He added that the FM station belonged to the people and that he had left everything to God.
In an announcement aired on the radio station during its global update, the management of the radio station called for calm after the demolition.
My pains, my sweat, Yinka Ayefele laments demolition of Fresh FM
Ayefele
The Ace gospel musician has taken to his Facebook wall to lament the demolition of the Music House housing his radio station, Fresh FM.
He had lamented: “Oyo state government it did at last……my pains my sweat ….So help me God.”
As at the time of filing this story, the post had generated 4,200 comments and 14,000 shares
Fresh FM’s Music House Contravenes Planning Laws – Oyo Govt
Meanwhile, the state government has justified the demolition on the ground that the building contravened its town planning laws.
The Radiance got the position of the state government on Sunday on the Facebook wall of its spokesman, Mr Bolaji Tunji.
According to the statement: “The Oyo State Government on Wednesday explained that the demolition notice to Music House, Fresh FM 105.9, Ibadan 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 in the state.
“The government in a statement by the State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun said that the state government observed that property owners in the state are deviating from the originally approved building plans without seeking physical planning approvals from the Oyo State Bureau of Physical Planning and Development Control.
“Arulogun stated that the decision of the state government to demand for the building approved plan was not peculiar to Music House, Fresh Fm as several companies and institutiuons such as University of Ibadan, Kola Daisi University, University College Hospital, banks and radio stations in the state were asked to provide their Planning approval, saying that the government recently demolished several banks ATM extension and some local government structures in the state.
“The Government spokesman said that the letter to Fresh Fm was received by one Bamiduro Aderonke and a reminder letter dated 18th August 2017 was sent to the radio station to again request for the planning approval/permit for the Radio Station in line with the Oyo State Physical and Development Control laws in which the radio station was expected to forward the approved Building plan to the Bureau within seven days, noting that a copy of the letter was received by Adebisi Akinfunmi on the 21st of August 2017.
“Arulogun said that the submitted building approval was actually meant for an office complex and not a radio station, thereby 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, stating that the submitted approval from Music House deviated from the approved plan which effect makes the approval null and void because deceitful information was given to the approving authority and also deviation from the approval granted both in construction and use.
“He added that a physical inspection was carried out on the 25th of June 2018 to ascertain the extent of the deviation from the approval where it was discovered that apart from the change in use of the building, spatial standards in terms of setback, airspace and parking spaces were found to be grossly inadequate.
“The Commissioner said that a letter was sent to Music house on 29th of June, 2018 to submit a fresh building plan application that will reflect the existing structures on site, noting that the radio house deliberately ignored the letter as there was no response from their end till date.
“He said that the deviant posture of the radio station prompted the Bureau to serve a three day Demolition Notice on the 13th August 2018 which expired on the 15th August 2018.
“Arulogun said that the government had also received petitions subsequent upon three fatal accidents that occurred around Music house in the last nine months, as the petitioners urged the government to look at the physical structure of the organization in relation to the dual carriage way which lends itself easily to accidents.
“He emphasised that the government will do the needful and follow due process in accordance with the laws of the land but will not dignify or elevate the tantrums of Music House, Fresh Fm”
NAN/Punch/Naija247news
