The Ogun State High Court sitting in Sagamu on Tuesday directed former governor of the state and Senator representing Ogun East, Gbenga Daniel to present the necessary documents requested by the state government in respect of his Asoludero Court, Sagamu GRA private residence as well as Conference Hotels and its annexe also owned by the former governor.
According to a statement sent to journalists by Kayode Akinmade, Special Adviser to Gov Dapo Abiodun on Information and Strategy, Justice O. S. Oloyede at the resumed hearing of the suit no HCS/371/2025 involving Otunba Justus Gbenga Daniel and Anor vs the Governor of Ogun State and Others, directed the former governor to present his papers to the government in line with the request made to him and other residents in the area.
O.T. Olaotan, Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, who represents the government, alongside R.B. Kadiri (DCL), A.E. Odukoya, and W.A. Onawole informed the court that an interlocutory injunction and counter-affidavits have been filed in response to the motion by Daniel and served on the Claimants’ counsel.
The Counsel noted that the matter was not ripe for hearing and that the Court was also not inclined to take the application.
However, A.O. Kotoye (SAN), with O.T. Are and A.O. Adeniyi for the Claimants, applied for the Court to extend the interim Order earlier granted, which will automatically abate after seven days.
The Defence team was said to have “argued that the Court should order the Claimants/Applicants to take advantage of the two-week extension announced by the Government and furnish the Ministry of Physical Planning with the necessary documents, which others served with the same notices have been complying with.”
Justice Oloyede thereafter asked the parties to maintain the status quo. He also urged the parties to explore settlement options.
The judge was quoted to have “further directed the Claimants/Applicants to take advantage of the extension and furnish the relevant government agency with the necessary documents as requested by the government.”
Counsel for the Claimants and Defendants both agreed that the matters be adjourned to 13th October 2025.
The Court consequently adjourned the matter to the date agreed by the parties for the hearing of the pending applications.
Recalled that Daniel through his lawyers had last week sought for interim injunction barring Gov Abiodun, his proxies, cronies and other state government officials from tampering with any of his properties which were served contravention and demolition notices on Friday August 8.
Justice Oloyede after listening to the motion filed by AM Kotoye, SAN on behalf Daniel and his wife, Yeye Olufunke Daniel had consequently granted the exparte interim injunction restraining Gov Abiodun, his agents, allies, proxies, assigns, cronies, servants among others from tampering with the identified properties
Daniel had raised alarm and accused Gov Abiodun last week of ordering the demolition of his Sagamu private residence, The Asoludero Court, Conference Hotels Limited as well as the hotel annexe in Sagamu all owned by the former governor.
The former governor in a statement signed by his media aide, Oliyide said that the order of the governor was conveyed in notices of contravention, quit and threat of demolition within the next three days which was pasted on the properties on Friday, August 8 at about 4pm.
Daniel described the allegation levelled against him as laughable and one one that is deeply rooted in a thuggish and political vindictiveness at its highest shameful level.
The Commissioner for Urban Development and Physical Planning, Tpl Tunji Odunlami has however said that the contravention notice was not to target any individual but a routine government land auditing of its GRAs which is in line with its urban renewal project.
Odunlami, while addressing journalists last Monday, said that what everyone served the contravention notice in the GRA ought to do, including Daniel was to come forward with their necessary documents for verification by the government.
He insisted that the audit exercise was not to tarnish anybody’s image as it will also be carried out in the GRAs owned by the government across the state.
The government also last week Wednesday said that it has extended the deadline for property owners/occupiers affected by the ongoing audit exercise within Sagamu GRA to submit their title documents by two weeks.
Odunlami in a statement said that the extension is aimed at giving property owners and developers more time to either present their planning permits or approach the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development and its agencies to regularise their unapproved developments.
The Punch
