Court Halts Ogun Governor From Demolishing Ex-Governor Daniel’s Home, Hotel
Justice O.S Oloyede of the Ogun State High Court on Tuesday granted ex parte interim reliefs restraining Governor Dapo Abiodun and any state officials from tampering with or demolishing Asoludero Court, the Sagamu GRA private residence of former Governor Gbenga Daniel. The interim protection expressly extends to Conference Hotels Limited and its annex, also owned by Daniel.
The claimants/applicants are Otunba Gbenga Daniel and his wife, Yeye Olufunke Daniel, represented by A. M. Kotoye, SAN. The defendants/respondents are Governor Dapo Abiodun, the Attorney General of Ogun State, the Ogun State Planning and Development Permit, and the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development.
By their ex parte motion, the applicants sought urgent injunctive relief to restrain the respondents and their privies from demolishing or otherwise interfering with Asoludero Court, Conference Hotels, and the annex pending the determination of a motion on notice.
According to the Certified True Copy signed by W. T. Ogundele, Principal Registrar, and released to the press, the court was invited to preserve the res in light of alleged imminent actions foreshadowed by notices of contravention, quit, and threat of demolition.
Having considered the supporting affidavit and affidavit of urgency, the court found that immediate intervention was required to maintain the status quo ante and prevent irreparable harm before the hearing of the motion on notice.
Consequently, the court issued an ex parte interim order restraining the defendants/respondents, their agents, allies, proxies, assigns, cronies, servants, or any persons acting through or under them, from demolishing or in any manner tampering with Asoludero Court situate at Block 1, Plots 7 and 8, and Block XXXVIII, Plots 1 and 12, within the amended Government Reservation Area, now Awolowo Avenue, Sagamu, measuring approximately 1,659 hectares, as described in Plan No. SA.160 (OG), tied to former C of O No. 024698 of 21 April 2005, replaced by computerized C of O No. LUD3/LR2693 of 20 January 2010, and from giving effect to the quit notice dated 8 August 2025, pending determination of the motion on notice.
The court further granted an interim injunction restraining any further trespass or disturbance of the claimants/applicants’ quiet possession of the said property, on the same land description and documentary particulars, likewise pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
The matter stands adjourned to 19 August 2025 for hearing of the application for interlocutory injunction.
The interim orders follow allegations by Daniel that the Governor had directed the demolition of his Sagamu residence, Asoludero Court, as well as Conference Hotels Limited and its annex. The claimants say notices of contravention, quit, and demolition—purportedly requiring compliance within three days—were pasted on 8 August at about 4 p.m.
Daniel, through his media aide, characterized the allegations underpinning the notices as baseless and politically motivated, describing them as indicative of vindictiveness.
Responding, the Commissioner for Urban Development and Physical Planning, Tpl. Tunji Odunlami, stated that the contravention notices were not targeted at any individual but formed part of a routine government audit of GRAs under the state’s urban renewal programme.
He urged all recipients of the notices, including Senator Daniel (Ogun East), to present their title and planning documents for verification, adding that the audit will extend to government GRAs across the state and is not intended to tarnish anyone’s image.
