Court Halts Akeredolu’s Proposed Demolition Of Trade Fair Complex
The state government has been barred from demolishing structures at the state’s Trade Fair Complex on Igbatoro Road in Akure, the state capital, by an Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure.
Justice Adegboyega Adebusoye approved the application preventing the defendants from proceeding with the demolition awaiting the hearing of the interlocutory injunction application, which will be held on April 25, 2022.
The state government had already issued a quit notice to the owners of the structures in the complex, requiring them to relocate their operations to another location.
The government had begun the destruction, but the owners of the structures objected, claiming that their land rent had not yet expired.
Through their counsel, Mr. Olumide Ogidan, the victims and claimants who were trading on the premises had filed an interim order to prevent further demolition.
The Ondo State Government, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, as well as the Commissioner for Commerce, Investment, and Corporative Services, are also defendants in the action.
Ogidan had previously asked the court to stop the defendants from continuing with the destruction while the motion for an interlocutory injunction was being heard.
“The basic obj
ective of our complaint is to challenge the purported fast notice provided to the inhabitants of the trade fair complex who have current lease agreements with the government and have been renewing their tenancy and leases,” he said.
“Some of them paid as late as February this year, but they were served a notice to quit, dated March 24, 2022, informing them of the need to vacate the facilities they are occupying, on the grounds that the government is planning to demolish the entire trade fair complex because they have an investor to give the place to.”
“We believe this is wrong because the majority of these inhabitants have existing leases and tenancy agreements with the government, and some of them have just renewed their rent, and the government is not offering compensation,” said the group.
