An Ogun State High Court has issued an interim order restraining the state government from demolishing or tampering with properties owned by former Governor Gbenga Daniel, including his Asoludero Court residence and Conference Hotels Limited in Sagamu GRA.
Justice O.S. Oloyede granted the order on Tuesday after hearing an ex parte motion filed by Daniel and his wife, Yeye Olufunke Daniel, through their counsel, A.M. Kotoye (SAN).
The defendants in the suit include Governor Dapo Abiodun, the Ogun State Attorney General, the State Planning and Development Permit Authority, and the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development.
According to court documents seen by journalists, the Daniels sought to prevent the state or any of its agents from acting on a quit notice and demolition threat allegedly issued by the government. The notice, dated August 8, 2025, was reportedly pasted on the disputed properties last Friday.
In granting the order, Justice Oloyede said the court was satisfied that urgent intervention was necessary to protect the applicants’ interests pending a formal hearing.
“I hereby issue an interim order restraining the defendants, their agents, proxies, assigns, or anyone acting on their instruction, from demolishing or tampering with the Asoludero Court and associated properties,” the judge ruled.
He further barred the state government from interfering with the claimants’ quiet possession of the properties until the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction is heard.
The court action follows a public accusation by Daniel over the weekend, in which he claimed that Governor Abiodun had directed the planned demolition of his private home and businesses in Sagamu. He described the move as “thuggish and politically motivated” and accused the government of pursuing a personal vendetta.
In a statement released by his media aide, the former governor said the demolition threat was delivered via pasted notices of contravention and quit order, with a three-day compliance window.
However, the Ogun State government has denied any political undertones in the matter.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Tpl Tunji Odunlami, insisted the action was part of a routine land use audit aimed at verifying compliance across government residential areas (GRAs) as part of its urban renewal program.
“The notice is not targeted at any individual. It’s a standard exercise across all GRAs in the state. Everyone, including Senator Daniel, is expected to come forward with their documents for verification,” Odunlami said.
He stressed that the same audit will be applied to all GRAs, including those owned by the state government, dismissing claims of bias or image smearing.
The court has adjourned the matter to August 19, 2025, for hearing on the application for interlocutory injunction.
