DATKEM, the company behind the controversial demolition of DATKEM Plaza in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, has taken legal action against key officials from the Ogun State Planning Permit Authority and the Ministry of Physical Planning.
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The company’s lawyer, A. M. Kotoye, SAN, has filed documents seeking to commit the General Manager of the Ogun State Planning and Development Permit Authority, TPL Idowu James, a Permanent Secretary in the office of the state’s Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Engineer Abiodun and the Zonal Officer of the agency, Tommy Hamzat to prison for contempt of court.
The move comes as a direct response to the officials’ alleged disobedience of a court order that directed them to maintain the status quo regarding the illegal demolition of DATKEM Plaza.
Recall that the plaza, located on No. 62, Ijebu Ode/Ibadan Road, has been a subject of dispute between DATKEM and the authorities, when the latter engaged in malicious demolition of the former around 2:00am on Sunday, September 10, 2023.
On Monday, September 11, 2023, the court had issued an order instructing all parties involved to refrain from taking any further action regarding the property. Additionally, the court requested DATKEM to provide an application detailing the current state of the plaza.
According to the affidavit filed in support of the application, the respondents were explicitly restrained from interfering with the property in question.
However, DATKEM claims that the officials continued their activities at the partially demolished DATKEM Plaza, disregarding the court’s clear and positive orders.
To hold the officials accountable for their alleged contempt, DATKEM’s lawyer filed Form 35, a notification of the consequences of disobedience to a court order. The document seeks to commit the alleged contemnors to prison until they purge themselves of the contempt.
The respondents, identified as TPL James, Hamzat, and Engr. Abiodun, were served with the court order on September 12, 2023.
Despite being served, DATKEM claims that the officials have continued to visit the property, demonstrating what they perceive as a blatant disregard for the court’s orders.
Abiodun was seen on the property around 12:30PM on September 11, 2023 where a notice, dated same day, was pasted on property, while James and Hamzat were seen barricading the plaza, with an alleged intention of further vandalisation.
Not only that, the trio has allegedly stationed a Toyota Pickup vehicle in front of the property, fully loaded with the armed men, contravening the court order.
Meanwhile, the governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, while reacting to the demolition by his men, had earlier described the court proceedings as frivolous in a bid to undermine the judicial process.
The outcome of this legal action will be closely watched, as it has the potential to set a precedent for future cases involving disobedience of court orders.
“We’re hopeful that the court will take the necessary steps to enforce its orders and ensure that justice is served in this matter,” Kotoye stated.
Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator and a recipient of the D9112 Superstar Icon Award, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
