By Ifeanyi Okolie

Residents of Ago-Okota, a suburb of Isolo Local Government Area in Lagos State, are yet to unravel the motive behind the demolition of a one- story building located at Number 28, Ago Palace Way, Okota by a gang of hoodlums.

The building which was being used for both commercial and private purposes was brought down allegedly by a crane belonging to the Chinese Civil Engineering Construction Corporation, CCECC, rehabilitating the Ago Palace Way at the early hours of Tuesday, September 10, 2013.

*Pastor Godwin Ihezue, standing in front of the demolished building

Although, the building has been a subject of controversy between one Pastor Godwin Ihezue, a tenant in the building and Frances Niyi Olaseinde, who resides in the United States of America and claims to be the owner of the building, the circumstamces surrounding the demolition is still shrouded in mystery as the contending parties seem not to be aware of the demolition exercise.  Other tenants told Crime Alert that they do not know who carried out the demolition between the warring parties as none of the parties had secured a court judgement over the property to the best of their knowledge.

The son to one of the contending parties, Ihezue Princewill told Crime Alert that some armed men, who identified themselves as members of the out-lawed, Oodua Poples Congress, OPC, stormed the building around 2:am and ordered everyone out of the building before they commenced demolition.

“They didn’t allow us carry out any of our properties. In fact, my sisters were still sleeping when they demolished our building with a crane belonging to the construction company reconstructing our road. We alerted the police but before they could get to us, the people had all gone. But by dawn, we took the police to the crane that was used for the job and they arrested the driver. As I speak with you, I have lost all my properties even my school certificates and that of my siblings.”

Another resident, Ugochukwu Obi, the Managing Director of Golden Touch International and Citro Ventures, who operates an office and a show room in the building told Crime Alert that he lost property worth millions of naira and he also accused the police of failing to investigate the matter properly before charging the suspect to court.

According to him, “ I wonder why the police would hurriedly arrest all the suspects fingered in the matter and charge a case as huge as this to court without proper investigation. I was told that the arrested crane driver confessed that he was given the sum of N 200,000, and at the time I was informed about the demolition, I called my landlord, Mr. Ihezue and inquired what may have happened.

He told me that the building couldn’t have been demolished by any government official because government don’t work at night but he suspected that the demolition may have been sponsored by his opponent who was in court with him over the said property. But the police after hearing the crane operator’s confessions didn’t bother to apprehend the people that contracted him for the job, all they did was to hurriedly charge him to court on a minor offence.”

He, however, added that, “all my documents, office equipment, machines were all destroyed. I run a furniture company, I couldn’t pick any of the materials I use. There were very valuable documents and it has been a big battle trying to salvage them. No crane man will work without someone’s instruction. What we did not understand was the reason why he was quickly charged to court without police ascertaing whoever sent him top wreck that havoc. I suspect foul play at Ago-Okota Police Station.”

Meanwhile, a petition had been written to the  Commissioner of Police, Lagos State asking for the transfer of the case from Ago-Okota police station to the State Criminal Investigations Department, SCID, Panti Yaba, for thorough investigation.

The petition which was signed by Evans Duru Chambers, on behave of Messrs Ugochukwu Obi and Godwin Ihezue and dated 11 September, 2013, stated that building located at No. 28 Ago Palace Way,Okota, was peacefully in their possession since 1989 when a mortgage loan was paid off by Pastor Godwin Ihezue on behalf of Francis Olaseinde.

Subject of litigation

According to the petitioner,  “ Prior to this time, the said property has being a subject of multiple litigation between the parties. Until September 10, 2013, the suit has being before Hon. Justice Coke of Lagos State High Court, in Suit no. ID/676/2010 and MCY/387/2013, respectively before Magistrate court No. 4,Isolo. It is on record that Mr. Francis Olaseinde the major suspect in this drama did not destroy the said property by virtue of any court order from a court of competent jurisdiction in Lagos State. His only claim to legitimacy in destroying the said property was the use of naked power and the culture of impunity. “

When Crime Alert made efforts to get Olaseinde’s account of the story, his lawyer, Mr. Soga Dairo, refused to make comment claiming that it will be subjudice to speak on a matter that is in court.