Unlawful Demolition: Bizman demands N500m Reparation From Lagos Govt.

Chief Kareem Olomide Osoba

Unlawful Demolition: Bizman demands N500m Reparation From Lagos Govt

A Lagos businessman and frontline hotelier, Chief Kareem Olomide Osoba, is protesting illegal demolition of his business premises and destruction of his property by agents of the Lagos State government. 

He estimated his losses at N500 million and demanded same as reparation.

Addressing newsmen, Chief Kareem who also is the current Governor of Lagos State chapter of Performing Musicians’ Association of Nigeria (PMAN) stated that June 3, 2021, officials of Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Yaba District office, visited the premises of his Kabiyesi Hotel located at 24, Commercial Avenue, Sabo, Yaba, alleging that the building was distressed and that noticeable cracks were observed on the walls and stairs as well as a dilapidated roof, with a notice with reference LASBCA/CA/YAB21/PCA/CN10, was thereafter given. 

The notice read in part: “Upon inspection of the property at above address it appears the provisions of the Lagos State Building Control Regulations made in pursuant to Urban Planning and Development Law 2010 had been contravened.”

He stated further that while efforts were ongoing in carrying out necessary rehabilitation on the building, a seven-day quit notice was again served on June 8, 2021, while a “seal-up” notice was served on June 22, adding that no “notice of demolition” of the building was served him. 

According to the top Fuji musician cum hotelier, two days later and while renovation work was still ongoing, officials, purportedly from the office of the State Governor with a team of policemen and men of the State Environmental Services, stormed the premises and demolished the building without prior notice whatsoever. 

“Pleadings that I be allowed some time to evacuate some of my property from the building fell on deaf ears, insisting that they were carrying out the Governor’s instructions and there and then, all that I have laboured for in the last 35 years were completely destroyed right in my presence,” Osoba said in an emotion-laden voice. 

He stated further that he has consulted his counsel and instructed him to institute necessary legal actions to press home his demand since, according to him, the demolition was in violation of his fundamental human rights. 

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