Ogun demolishes N1bn plaza belonging to ex-gov Gbenga Daniel, wife

The Ogun State Government has demolished DATKEM Plaza, which is owned by Yeye Olufunke, the wife of Senator Gbenga Daniel.

The mall, located along Folagbade Street in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, was demolished within three days of notification.

The Project Manager and Developer, Olusegun Lawal of Adeolumi Environmental Services Limited, made this known in a statement on Sunday.

He said the ground floor and mezzanine is a banking hall fully fitted with bank trap doors, and CHUBB strong room, adding that it had a Kone elevator installed by Kresta Laurel Limited, another company owned by Daniel, a former two-term Governor of Ogun State.

The Project Manager also said about 80 brand new split air-conditioners just completely installed by Holomicool Nigeria Limited were also destroyed alongside the building with a 150 KVA generator set and transformer.

He added that a fire fighting system installed by Flory Limited and external cladding being completed by Vertex Nigeria Limited also went down.

Lawal said government gave was “not enough parking space (front of Building is Folagbade Street, sided by two (2) undeveloped streets which is being prepared by the Developers to be tarred to support parking while the empty piece of land at the back is being negotiated for lease to complement car parking.”

He said, “Another reason is inadequate Muster Point: Muster point is any space outside the building where people can gather in case of fire or emergency. There is ample space around the building that can be used as Muster Point.

“There is also inadequate airspace. This is a new one. But there is enough airspace as there is no single adjoining building around the four sides of the building.”

Lawal further informed that the notice of demolition was just three days, adding that the bulldozers of the government moved in at 3am on Sunday and was still working at the time he issued the statement.

He put the cost of the building at N1 billion, with about 100 workmen, who are Nigerians, on the site.

Lawal added that the third floor of the plaza was to house the Ogun East Senatorial District office of  Daniel, adding, “There are no single structural defects on the building and ALL relevant and necessary government approvals have been obtained.”