An Ibadan-based trader, Dapo Davies, has alleged that some top officials of the Ministry of Lands in Oyo state are preventing him from rebuilding his burnt property.
DAILY POST recalls that the property located at No.1, Lebanon Street, Dugbe- Alawo, Ibadan was gutted by fire a few years ago.
Davies has now alleged that top officials of the ministry have refused to give him approval to rebuild his burnt property.
Davies made this disclosure through “save our soul” letters written on his behalf by his counsel, Niyi Okanlawon.
Okanlawon, who noted that Davies has been given approval for the property since 2013, alleged that the officials of the ministry had also re-issued approval to another person on the land.
Okanlawon, who spoke with journalists in Ibadan on Thursday, maintained that issuing another approval to another person on the same land which already got approval in the same ministry was fraudulent.
He added that the intervention of the governor was needed at this time.
He added that two separate “save our soul” letters, dated 16th June and 19th June 2023, had been sent to the governor on the matter.
“We are Solicitors to Mr. Dapo Davies (hereinafter referred to as “Our Client”) on whose instruction we write on the above subject.
“Our Client is the sub-lensee of the Property Situate at No.1, Lebanon Street, Dugbe- Alawo, Ibadan which was gutted by fire on 15 April, 2020. Our client has made several efforts to obtain approval to renovate the said property from the Oyo State Ministry of Lands and Urban Development without success.
“It has been over three (3) years since the fire incident occurred and our client has since been making frantic efforts to renovate the said property, but all efforts to obtain an approval to renovate the said property has been frustrated by the Ministry of Lands.
“Your Excellency, the property in question forms part of our client’s source of livelihood which has been put on hold for the past three years and has resulted in financial hardship”.
The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs. Mofoluke Adebiyi, when contacted, said she was not aware of the allegation.
She promised to find out and investigate the matter.
Adebiyi told DAILY POST, “Maybe you can send the copies of the petitions to me. As I speak, I am not aware of what you are talking about.
“I will find out what you are talking about. I will get to you the details later.”