The partial demolition of Oraukwu Plaza owned by Mr. Samuel Abana has raised issues in regards to the processes of land allocation and safety of property homeowners’ pursuits throughout the Lagos Worldwide Commerce Truthful Complicated.
Lamenting the latest partial demolition of his plaza, Abana alleged that on March 24, 2025, officers of the Balogun Enterprise Affiliation (BBA), on the instruction of the President of the affiliation, Mr. Oscar Odogwu, demolished a bit of his Oraukwu Plaza with out prior discover and room for honest listening to.
Abana claimed that his staff arrived the plaza on the morning of the day to see that part of it had been eliminated with a few of the objects saved in that part of the plaza carted away.
In line with him, subsequent investigations revealed that the Chairman of the BBA Board of Trustees, Mr. Okey Ezeibe, allegedly authorised the break-in.Additionally, Ezeibe, together with Odogwu, the President of BBA, reportedly claimed that each Mr. Abana’s land and the neighbouring property belonged to BBA. Abana, nonetheless, claimed that his land was allotted to him by BBA’s Allocation Committee, although not beneath the administration of Odogwu.
Regardless of making this assertion and presenting paperwork to show that the land was allotted to him legally, the BBA Board of Trustee chairman and president didn’t hear relatively reallocated the one other one that is already erecting a construction on the land.
“Did he request for the paperwork earlier than demolition? What did you count on, even when the doc for approval of the extension was despatched to him after demolition, he labeled it pretend to justify what he has already completed. They promote lands paid for and accredited by earlier administrations.”
Abana additionally acknowledged that the septic tank that served many plazas and two banks was repositioned to the street to offer various entry to the disputed land for the brand new proprietor.
He mentioned that it’s a part of the lawlessness being exhibited by the Odogwu lead administration not minding the potential well being hazards the repositioned septic tank may pose to the merchants and prospects in addition to the broader implications for regulation and order.
When The Guardian visited the spot, building work had began on the part demolished regardless of ongoing competition over the land. When Odogwu was contacted on cellphone, he requested The Guardian to come back over to the BBA part of the Worldwide Commerce honest advanced for remark.
Nonetheless, when The Guardian arrived the part, Odogwu declined remark, saying the Chief Safety Officer of the BBA, Kenneth Obi, ought to communicate on behalf of the group. Obi was contacted and he claimed that Abana doesn’t have approval for the part of the land that was demolished.
He maintained that the affiliation doesn’t demolish land legally acquired or allotted to members, stating that the construction eliminated was an extension added by Abana to his major plaza. He additionally debunked the claims that objects have been carted away in the course of the demolition.
He added that if the petitioner felt handled unjustly, he ought to have reported the matter to the BBA Board of Trustees with the approval and allocation paperwork and the BOT will look into the problem dispassionately.
