Gbenga Daniel’s wife knocks Ogun govt, describes plaza’s demolition as executive recklessness - Newstrends
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Gbenga Daniel’s wife knocks Ogun govt, describes plaza’s demolition as executive recklessness

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Olufunke Daniel and the demolished plaza

Gbenga Daniel’s wife knocks Ogun govt, describes plaza’s demolition as executive recklessness

Olufunke Daniel, wife of former Ogun Gov. Gbenga Daniel, has tackled Ogun government over the demolition of her 5-storey DATKEM plaza in Ijebu-Ode, describing the act as executive recklessness.

Mrs. Daniel stated this on Sunday in a release issued by her lawyer, Mr Adeyinka Kotote (SAN), of PAGE Law office and made available to newsmen in Abeokuta.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that agents of the Ogun government in the early hours of Sunday, demolished DATKEM plaza in Ijebu Ode, belonging to Mrs. Daniel.

According to the release, the legal firm expressed shock that the state government ignored a court order served on its agents on Thursday, September 7, asking them to stop all actions on the building.

“This matter began when the Ogun State Planning and Development Authority agents entered the building premises on August 1 without any prior notice.

“Interestingly, a quit notice was only served on August 31 by the same Planning and Development Authority, asking the owner to vacate the premises within three days.

“However, DATKEM applied for unsealing and regularisation of the building on August 2 and paid the mandatory fee of N500,000 to the Ogun state government. We have evidence of this payment.

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“We were shocked and astonished therefore that the Ogun state government ignored the ongoing legal process and went ahead to demolish the complex in the early hours of Sunday. We want to believe that the State Attorney General’s advice was ignored on this matter,” Kotote said.

“Our clients, as law-abiding citizens of Ogun state, will continue to seek redress in the courts. Even when our clients have suffered unimaginable and huge losses as a result of this illegal demolition, we will not relent in pursuing justice in the courts,” he said.

He added that he believed Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun was not informed of this illegality.

“But if he was informed and still decided to use the instrument of the state against our clients, it is nothing but executive recklessness. But we will continue to fight for justice and ensure that our clients get justice,” the release said.

in a reaction, the Ogun government said that DATKEM Plaza, Ijebu-Ode, was an Illegal structure which contravened Ogun Physical Planning laws.

The state government, in a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Olayiwola Abiodun, said the structure violated the building codes of the state with numerous defects.

Abiodun explained that several efforts made by the state government to halt further development on the site were ignored by the developers.

He said government officials requested the structural engineer in charge of the building to avail the state with the structural equilibrium of the building, a request that was ignored.

He recalled the various incidences of building disasters across the country, adding that the state government would not fold its arm and allow such occurrence.

According to the permanent secretary, what the government did in partially pulling down the defective building was to be proactive.

Abiodun challenged the owners of the structure to produce evidence of government approval in their possession.

He said for a commercial building of that status, there must be parking space to accommodate vehicular traffic within and outside the facility for workers and visitors.

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“The provision of the law is that 45 to 50 per cent of available land is for construction as a buildable area. The building lacked stage certification, which is usually issued at every stage of construction.

“Owners were served the necessary notices, including abatement, contravention, stop work and demolition between May and October 2022, which were ignored.

“DATKEM Enterprises Limited submitted application for an office building, located along Ibadan Road, Ijebu Ode, in 2009 with registration number CB/05/299/2009.

“The proposal was for five (5) floors with airspace of 3 metres at the right, 5 metres at the left, 5 metres at the rear and a setback of 32.5516 metres to the middle of Ijebu Ode/Ibadan road, Ijebu-Ode.

“The Zonal Town Planning Office observed during routine monitoring that the construction did not conform with the plan granted as there was a deviation from the airspaces and setback.

“In addition, the building had been modified and enlarged with an additional storey building at the back thereby becoming over density.

“In view of the above, a contravention notice with Serial No. 0106983 was served on 24th May, 2022. Stop Work Order with Serial No. 000623 was served on May 24, 2022.

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“Another Stop Work Order with Serial No. 001065 was served on July 22, 2022, when the first notice was ignored. Demolition Notice with Serial No. 0007549 was served on October 11, 2022,” he said.

The statement also indicated that despite all these notices, the developer was recalcitrant and continued with the construction work.

“This prompted the re-sealing of the site on August 1, 2023. But the sealing did not stop the developer from further construction as work continued on the site.

“However, the developer wrote an appeal for unsealing, which was considered so as to evacuate the belongings in the premises. Thereafter, quit notice with Serial No. 0030750 was served on August 31, 2023.

“In view of the fact that the developer had remained recalcitrant, the Zonal Town Planning Office’s recommendation for the demolition of the office building was upheld,” he added.

Abiodun reiterated state government’s commitment to ensure the safety of its citizens, adding that any defective building in any part of the state would be demolished to safeguard the lives of the people.

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Lagos Mob Sets BRT Bus Ablaze After Fatal Crash, Driver Rescued

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October 17, 2026

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Lagos Mob Sets BRT Bus Ablaze After Fatal Crash, Driver Rescued
Lagos Mob Sets BRT Bus Ablaze After Fatal Crash, Driver Rescued

A Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) bus has been set ablaze by an angry mob in Ikorodu, Lagos State, following a road accident involving a commercial motorcyclist, popularly known as an Okada rider.

The incident occurred on Friday, October 16, around Ogolonto Bus Stop along Ikorodu Road, where the crowd reportedly attacked the bus driver before security operatives intervened to rescue him.

The circumstances surrounding the crash remained unclear, and the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) said it could not confirm reports that the motorcyclist died in the incident.

Kolawole Ojelabi, LAMATA’s Head of Corporate Communication, confirmed that an accident had occurred between a BRT bus and a motorcycle on the BRT corridor. He said the motorcycle rider was reportedly using the dedicated bus lane, contrary to traffic regulations.

Ojelabi condemned the destruction of the bus, warning that the incident would affect public transportation in the area. According to him, the damaged vehicle would have served at least 400 Lagos residents daily.

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The attack reportedly escalated after news of the collision spread, prompting a crowd to set the bus on fire. Police officers and personnel of the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) intervened and rescued the driver from the angry crowd.

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service also responded to the emergency. Its spokesperson, Amodu Shakiru, said the service received a distress call at about 10:21 a.m. and that firefighters found the bus engulfed in flames on arrival. Firefighters subsequently worked to extinguish the blaze.

Shakiru confirmed that the driver had been beaten but was rescued by security operatives and received medical attention. He said he could not provide further details about the circumstances of the collision.

The identity of the motorcyclist and the precise cause of the crash had not been officially established in the reports available after the incident. It was also unclear whether anyone had been arrested over the burning of the bus.

The incident has renewed concerns about road safety, the use of dedicated BRT lanes and mob violence following road accidents. While fatal crashes can provoke anger and grief, attacking drivers and destroying public transport vehicles can endanger lives, disrupt services and impose additional costs on the public.

Authorities are expected to establish the circumstances of the accident and determine responsibility for the destruction of the bus.

 

Lagos Mob Sets BRT Bus Ablaze After Fatal Crash, Driver Rescued

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Imodi-Ijebu Muslim Community Bets on 20 Chiefs to Drive Education, Economic Growth

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October 17, 2026

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Imodi-Ijebu Muslim Community Bets on 20 Chiefs to Drive Education, Economic Growth

New chiefs urged to promote unity, shun partisan politics in mosques, invest in youth, Islamic education

The ancient community of Imodi-Ijebu in Ogun State recently witnessed a blend of tradition, faith and renewed development aspirations as 20 distinguished sons and daughters were turbaned as chiefs of the Muslim community, with a ₦1bn fundraising drive launched to support education and empowerment initiatives.

Beyond the colourful ceremony and conferment of prestigious titles, the gathering presented an opportunity to redefine leadership within the community, with prominent Islamic scholars and community leaders challenging the new titleholders to translate their honours into tangible benefits for the people.

Held at the Tititlayo Agbaje Memorial Comprehensive High School, Imodi, the event brought together Islamic leaders, professionals, traditional titleholders and other stakeholders united by a common aspiration to strengthen the Muslim community and accelerate the development of the town.

At the heart of the ceremony was a strong message: the new titles must not become symbols of prestige alone but instruments for service, unity, religious advancement and social transformation.

The National Missioner of Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Shaykh AbdurRahman Ahmad, set the tone with a warning against the intrusion of partisan politics into mosques, stressing that religious institutions must remain places of worship and unity rather than platforms for political mobilisation.

He reminded the newly turbaned chiefs that Muslims were entitled to support political parties of their choice, but cautioned that those occupying leadership positions must not exploit their influence to impose their political preferences on others.

“The chiefs should abstain from bringing politics into the mosque. Any Muslim is entitled to belong to whatever party he wants to belong to. A chief must not use his position to influence other members of the mosque to join his party,” he said.

Shaykh Ahmad also reminded the titleholders that their new positions came with significant responsibilities, urging them to exercise restraint, uphold exemplary conduct and deepen their knowledge of Islam.

He called on them to support the advancement of the religion by paying greater attention to the welfare of Islamic clerics, whose services remain central to the spiritual and social wellbeing of the Muslim community.

A call for accountable leadership

The Grand Mufti of the Conference of Islamic Organisations, Sheikh Dhikrullah Shafi’i, reinforced the message of responsibility, urging the new chiefs to protect the integrity of Islam, promote religious tolerance and discharge their duties with accountability.

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Citing Qur’an 33:57, he emphasised the need for the titleholders to appreciate the consequences of their actions and ensure that their conduct advanced rather than undermined the interests of the religion.

For him, the responsibilities attached to the titles demanded more than public recognition. They required a conscious commitment to protecting Islamic values and creating an environment in which Muslims could deepen their understanding of the faith.

He proposed the establishment of an Islamic library to improve access to learning resources, encourage continuous religious education and provide members of the community with opportunities to expand their knowledge.

The proposal added an educational dimension to the broader development agenda emerging from the ceremony, underscoring the importance of knowledge in sustaining religious values and preparing future generations for leadership.

Former Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Alhaji Zikrullah Hassan, also challenged the Muslim community to look beyond conventional religious activities and embrace a broader developmental role.

He said the mosque should serve as an institution for promoting education, economic development and youth empowerment, helping young people build confidence, acquire useful skills and prepare for the challenges of life.

His position aligned with the spirit of the ₦1bn fundraising initiative, which placed education and empowerment among the key priorities of the community.

New chiefs unveil their priorities

For some of the newly installed chiefs, the ceremony marked the beginning of a fresh commitment to community service, with promises ranging from strengthening Islamic institutions to improving social welfare and expanding economic opportunities.

Alhaji Ishaq Sanni, a retired director of NAHCON who was installed as Aare Adeen, said his immediate priority was to support the Central Mosque, promote unity among Muslim faithful and strengthen Islamic education.

He also pledged to work towards establishing a welfare system for the less privileged and widows, highlighting the need for religious leadership to respond to the everyday challenges confronting vulnerable members of society.

Sanni urged young people to take pride in their faith, pursue Western education, avoid social vices and contribute meaningfully to the development of Islam in Imodi.

His message reflected a wider concern expressed at the gathering: that religious identity, formal education and responsible citizenship should reinforce one another in preparing young people for the future.

Dr Abdulfattah Olufowobi, former Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Science at The Polytechnic, Ibadan, who was installed as Baba Adeen of Imodi, pledged to bring fresh ideas and positive change to the community.

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He said he intended to promote unity within the Muslim Ummah and address the lingering hierarchical disagreements within the Council of Imodi Muslim Chiefs.

His remarks pointed to the importance of internal cohesion in enabling the community to pursue its development objectives effectively.

Alhaji Oduwole Azeez, installed as Otun Balogun Adeen, promised to advance Islam through personal example, support for Da’wah activities and investment in the next generation.

He stressed that honesty, integrity and the fear of Allah must define the conduct of Muslim leaders, adding that children should be grounded in the Qur’an and Sunnah to preserve the values of Islam.

From farming to digital skills

For Alhaji Tajudeen Adebanjo, Chief Correspondent with The Nation, who received the title of Giwa Adeeni, the development agenda must extend beyond religious affairs to the economic and social needs of residents.

He identified infrastructure, women and youth empowerment, information and communication technology education, agriculture and healthcare as priority areas requiring attention.

Adebanjo also advocated a renewed focus on farming, urging residents to explore agriculture as a viable source of income and employment.

He said efforts should be made to improve the movement of agricultural produce from Imodi to Lagos, where farmers could access larger markets and potentially earn better returns.

According to him, stronger connections to urban markets could help residents take advantage of the relatively lower cost of living in their community while building more sustainable livelihoods.

His proposals highlighted the importance of connecting local production with wider commercial opportunities, particularly for young people and households seeking alternative sources of income.

The 20 titleholders

The 20 distinguished sons and daughters honoured at the ceremony were Dr Abdulfattah Olufowobi, Baba Adeen of Imodi; Alhaji Ishaq Sanni, Aare Adeen; Alhaji Tajudeen Adebanjo, Giwa Adeeni; Chief Abdul Waheed Sanni, Otun Asinwaju Adeen; and Chief Azeezat Sanni, Ekerin Iya Sunnah.

Others were Alhaji Oduwole Azeez, Otun Balogun Adeen; Alhaja Khadijat Onabule, Eketa Iya Sunnah; Alhaji Ibraheem Mustapha, Otun Arowosadeen; Alhaji AbdulWakeel Baoku, Alatunse Adeen; and Alhaji AbdulMojeed Agbaje, Otun Mogaji Adeen.

The remaining honourees were Chief Alimot Oresajo, Otun Osupa Adeen; Alhaji Ismaheel Yekeen, Balogun Adinni; Alhaji Musiliyu Hussaini, Otun Giwa Adeen; Prince Abdul Rasheed Lawal, Sarumi Adeen; Chief Yunus Ahmed, Otun Aare Musulumi; and Chief Salamat Adesanya, Otun Agbesinga Adeen Obinrin.

Also honoured were Chief Wosilat Oduba, Otun Iya Adeen; Chief Balikis Hassan, Otun Iyalode Adeen; Chief Jemilat Lawal, Otun Alatunse Adeen Obinrin; and Alhaja Risikat Arowolo, Otun Asiwaju Adeen Obinrin of the Imodi-Ijebu Muslim Community.

A legacy measured by service

As the celebrations gave way to the responsibilities ahead, the central challenge for the newly turbaned chiefs will be translating their promises into measurable progress.

The proposed ₦1bn fundraising initiative offers an opportunity to strengthen education, empower vulnerable groups and support community development, while calls for an Islamic library, youth engagement, agricultural investment and improved welfare point to a broad vision of progress.

The success of that vision will depend on the community’s ability to mobilise resources, sustain cooperation among its leaders and ensure that development priorities are matched by practical action.

For Imodi-Ijebu, therefore, the turbaning of 20 illustrious sons and daughters represents more than a celebration of achievement. It is a call for leadership that unites faith with service, tradition with innovation, and religious responsibility with the pursuit of a better future for the entire community.

 

Imodi-Ijebu Muslim Community Bets on 20 Chiefs to Drive Education, Economic Growth

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Suspended Archbishop Ibezim Drags Anglican Primate to Court, Challenges Six-Month Leave

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October 17, 2026

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Suspended Archbishop Ibezim Drags Anglican Primate to Court, Challenges Six-Month Leave
Most Reverend Alexander Chibuzo Ibezim

Suspended Archbishop Ibezim Drags Anglican Primate to Court, Challenges Six-Month Leave

The suspended Archbishop of the Province of the Niger and Bishop of the Diocese of Awka, Most Reverend Alexander Chibuzo Ibezim, has sued the Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Most Reverend Henry C. Ndukuba, and the church’s Dean, Most Reverend Blessing Enyindah, seeking to stop further disciplinary action against him without compliance with the church’s constitution and canons.

Ibezim filed the suit at the Anambra State High Court in Awka, challenging the procedure adopted by the church leadership in investigating allegations involving his administration of the Diocese of Awka.

The case, marked A/371/2026, was instituted through an originating summons dated October 13, 2026, with a separate application seeking an interlocutory injunction against the defendants.

The Archbishop wants the court to determine the legal procedures governing disciplinary action against a serving bishop or archbishop under the Constitution and Canons of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion).

He is specifically asking the court to restrain Ndukuba and Enyindah from issuing or implementing measures to suspend, remove, retire or dismiss him from his ecclesiastical offices while the substantive suit is pending.

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Ibezim also wants the court to prevent the two church leaders from further threatening his removal or interfering in the affairs of the Diocese of Awka without his written consent.

The legal action follows the Primate’s directive that Ibezim proceed on six months’ compulsory leave with immediate effect while investigations into developments in the diocese continue.

In a letter dated October 13, Ndukuba said the decision was intended to allow a fair investigation and create an opportunity for peace and reconciliation within the diocese. He cited Section 29(1) of Chapter V of the church’s 2020 Constitution and Canons as the basis for the administrative measure.

The directive also barred Ibezim from officiating at activities of the Church of Nigeria, the Province of the Niger and the Diocese of Awka during the period.

Ndukuba appointed the Bishop of Aguata Diocese, The Right Reverend Samuel Ezeofor, as Supervising Bishop of the Diocese of Awka and Coordinating Bishop of the Province of the Niger during Ibezim’s absence. The Archbishop was instructed to hand over his responsibilities to Ezeofor.

The Primate maintained that the compulsory leave was an administrative step rather than a disciplinary sanction.

However, Ibezim’s court action challenges the authority and procedure for imposing disciplinary measures on a serving bishop, arguing that the church’s governing provisions must be followed.

In his originating summons, he cited Sections 55, 75 and 76 of the church’s constitution, alongside relevant provisions of Canon XVI, as the legal framework governing disciplinary proceedings against bishops and archbishops.

He is asking the court to determine whether the Primate can unilaterally impose disciplinary sanctions without following the procedures prescribed by those provisions.

The Archbishop has also challenged the composition of a visitation team established to investigate developments in the Diocese of Awka. The team, chaired by Enyindah, was constituted through a letter dated June 17, 2026.

Ibezim described the team’s constitution as unlawful, a claim that remains for the court to determine.

The dispute has also been linked to allegations that church land valued at more than ₦2 billion was sold without proper authorisation. Reports said the matter prompted a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

However, the Primate’s letter directing Ibezim to proceed on leave did not specify the precise allegations against him or detail the findings of the visitation team.

The Archbishop’s lawsuit therefore raises questions about both the investigation process and the extent of the church leadership’s authority to impose administrative restrictions or disciplinary measures on a serving bishop.

The case comes amid growing tensions over the administration of the Awka Diocese, including the reported removal of the diocese’s former chancellor, retired Justice O.J. Okeke, by Ibezim.

The court’s eventual decision could clarify the interpretation of the church’s internal disciplinary rules and determine whether the challenged procedures complied with its governing constitution and canons.

As of the latest reports, the court had yet to determine the substantive questions raised in the suit or grant the final reliefs sought by the Archbishop. The allegations concerning the church land and the legality of the visitation team also remain unresolved.

The legal proceedings will determine the parties’ respective rights and obligations under the church’s governing provisions and applicable law.

 

Suspended Archbishop Ibezim Drags Anglican Primate to Court, Challenges Six-Month Leave

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