A former Deputy Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Edwards Ayo-Odugbesan, and his wife, Funmi, have pointed accusing fingers at the Chairman, Agege Local Government Area, Ganiyu Egunjobi, over unlawful demolition of their building on Old Ogba Road, Abiola Market, Lagos State.

The family, while claiming to have documents validating their ownership of the land, said the demolished property, which had been in existence for no fewer than 30 years, was used as a school for indigent residents of the Agege community.

When we visited the scene on Wednesday, it was observed that the school’s name is Edwards Private School.

At the site, labourers were seen demolishing the building, while the rubble of a section of the demolished property, and some books, tables, and chairs were scattered within the premises.

Odugbesan claimed to have sent a message on WhatsApp to Egunjobi revealing the building’s documents to prove that they own the property, adding that despite receiving the messages, the chairman reportedly went ahead to demolish the property.

“When we were alerted about the confiscation notice on Thursday, September 26, 2024, we immediately caused a letter to be written to the Chairman of the Agege Local Government Area the next day, and attached the CTC of all our land title documents,” he explained.

On her own, Funmi, while bemoaning the development, said the property was not targeted by the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority.

She said, “Even the LASPPA paper they pasted on the same day they demolished the three-story building showed that they were permitted only to demolish 27 bungalows inside the Abiola Market. They claim to have a Certificate of Occupancy dated 2000 from what LASPPA pasted on the fence but we got our Governor’s consent in 1995.”

The aggrieved couple provided scanned copies of the Deed of Assignment and the Governor’s Consent to our correspondent.

Egunjobi said that he was aware of the demolition, noting that he had valid documents showing the council owned the land.

Egunjobi said, “We have court documents that show that we are the owners of the land. I don’t know where their document is from. We can’t jump into the land if we don’t own it.

“Before the council can carry out demolition, they must have gotten approval from the state. We have permission, and we have to do it. We have been there for over six months, and the council is working there. There is no school there again. The school has stopped running for over five years.”

The chairman noted that the school had stopped running for over five years, the Head Teacher of the school, Ndidi Meduoye, and some parents debunked the claim.

Reacting to the case, the Director of Public Affairs, LASPPPA, Abimbola Emdin-Umeh, said the agency was not saddled with the responsibility of building demolition.

She said, “By law, we don’t have the facility, and if there’s any building that’s contravening the building laws of Lagos State, there are other agencies that will demolish it.”

However, a High Court sitting at the Ikeja Judicial Division of the state prohibited the Agege Local Government Area from carrying out any demolition activities while the case was adjourned until November 5, 2024.

Governor Umo Eno has appointed his daughter, Mrs. Helen Eno Obareki, as the acting First Lady of Akwa Ibom State.

This follows the death of his late wife, Pastor Patience Umo Eno.

On Friday Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Nigeria’s First Lady, led a delegation of dignitaries, including Hajia Nana Shettima, wife of the Vice President, and wives of state governors and presiding officers of the National Assembly, to condole with Governor Eno.

Senator Tinubu praised Governor Eno’s decision, noting that it reflects practices seen in the United States and is a thoughtful way to sustain the late Patience Eno’s legacy. “I want to thank God for Patience’s life, though short, she completed her race. May God comfort you, your family, and your children.”

Meanwhile, Governor Eno reflected on his deep bond with his late wife, describing her as his “greatest supporter and toughest critic.” He introduced his daughter as the new acting First Lady.

He said, “It is not an easy task ahead. But to maintain the Office of the First Lady and carry forward my late wife’s work, I present our daughter, Helen, to continue the duties of

the office.”

There is tension in Rivers State following the insistence of Governor Siminalayi Fubara to hold the scheduled local government elections scheduled tomorrow, Saturday.

Also, the governor accused the Inspector General of Police, IGP, and the entire Police Force of serving the interest of an Abuja-based politician to scuttle the local government election.

Governor Fubara made the allegations while addressing a world press conference at Government House in Port Harcourt today, Friday.

The governor said the already scheduled local government election, barely hours away, cannot be stopped or truncated because a particular person does not want it conducted.

He said that everything that needed to be done about the electoral process legally, security-wise and logistically, including the voters, had been finalised and voters sensitised because of their high confidence levels.

Governor Fubara said even the Police have been informed, and are expected to discharge their statutory professional security duties, particularly because the court also directed so in its judgement on the election.

He expressed regret that rather, the Police have become hired agents sent to attack the headquarters of Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, and tried but in vain to cart away sensitive materials.

Night raid

Fubara said: “In the early hours of this morning (Friday), I got a security report that the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, office has been invaded by the Nigerian Police.

“I was really surprised, because before that time, I got a copy of a signal withdrawing the police officers that were guarding the premises. So, I had to drive to the place myself since the facility belongs to the Rivers State Government.

Getting to the scene, and to the shock of everyone who accompanied me there, I met the presence of some fierce-looking policemen in one truck and three other empty Hilux vans trying to force their way into the premises.

And, I had to stop them. In the process, we discovered that that movement (operation), was a deliberate attempt by the Nigerian Police Force, both the Rivers State Command and the Headquarters (Abuja), to steal the electoral materials.

But by the special grace of God, that act was foiled.”

Governor Fubara questioned how low the Police stooped, allowing its officers to engage in such illegal acts that suggested that they have become enemies of Rivers State.

Otherwise, Governor Fubara wondered, why would the Police attempt to take over control of RSIEC or be used to stop an ongoing democratic process, which will lead to the emergence of elected political leadership at the local government councils.

Governor Fubara said: “Here are the questions: first, is the Rivers State Independent Electoral Commission, RSIEC, not an agency, and a process that is being controlled by the State Government?

“Is it not a system that is governed by the law of the State? Why is Rivers State’s case different?

The second part of it is: what is the special thing about this issue of taking over the premises by the Police? If we should go by what they claim that they had a court order, the court ruling said, don’t give RSIEC voter register, don’t give RSIEC police protection.

“Did the judgment say they should seal the premises? Or don’t allow them to conduct the election?”

Governor Fubara also said: “However, the Rivers State Government and RSIEC itself also had a judgment that states clearly: conduct the election with the voter’s register of 2023; and police, DSS, Nigeria Army and other sister agencies should provide security.

“I might not be a lawyer, but I understand clearly that when it comes to the issue of judgment, there is something they call first-in-time.”

Governor Fubara asked if there is any other court unknown to him that is bigger than the Supreme Court of Nigeria, whose judgment concerning a proper constitution of elected Local Government Councils is being obeyed in Rivers State.