[Explainer] Why Ogun State’s Attack On Asoludero Court Is Legally Baseless

The Ogun State Government’s move against Asoludero Court, the iconic complex built by former Governor Otunba Gbenga Daniel in 2004, is not just questionable; it is fundamentally flawed in law and tainted by politics.

At the heart of the controversy is the Ogun State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law No. 61 of 2022. The government appears intent on applying this law retroactively to a building completed almost two decades before its enactment. Yet, one of the clearest principles of jurisprudence is the non-retroactivity of laws, a statute cannot be enforced against acts lawfully carried out under previous regulations, unless it expressly says so.

Daniel, a trained engineer and a leader known for his meticulous adherence to regulations, reportedly secured all necessary approvals before construction. Those approvals remain on record with the Ogun State Government.

A Procedural Ambush

The Ogun State Planning and Development Permit Authority delivered a contravention notice, a quit notice, and a demolition threat, all within three days, and all initiated the same day,

In standard urban planning procedure, the first step when documentation is in doubt is to issue a Demand Notice, for the property owner to produce relevant permits. Only after confirming a genuine violation should a contravention notice follow, with time given for compliance or rectification.

By bypassing this due process and jumping directly to demolition threats, the government has revealed more than administrative haste, it has shown political intent.

A Pattern of Gestapo-Style Operations

This is not the first time the Abiodun administration has been accused of heavy-handed enforcement against the Daniel family. The midnight demolition of DATKEM Plaza in Ijebu-Ode in 2023, a property linked to Daniel’s wife, was carried out on a Sunday morning when courts and offices were shut. That operation, like the current move on Asoludero Court, bore all the hallmarks of political intimidation, not routine governance.

Selective Enforcement

The government’s claim that this is part of a general property audit falls apart under scrutiny. Asoludero Court sits within a Government Residential Area (GRA), one of the most closely monitored zones in Ogun State, where building approvals are tightly controlled.

Yet, Governor Dapo Abiodun’s own Iperu-Remo residence is said to violate setback requirements by sitting dangerously close to a Trunk A road, without attracting any contravention notice. The double standard is glaring.

An Institution Under Threat

Asoludero Court is far more than a private residence. Designed by celebrated architect Arc Kayode Anibaba (FIA), it houses:

* The Daniel Family Residence (completed in 2004)

*AAA. L A library and mini museum, holding thousands of books and historical records on Ogun State and Nigeria

* The Gateway Front Foundation Offices headquarters of Daniel’s not-for-profit organisation established in 2001

* A Leadership Training Academy with the 300-seat Asoludero Hall for lectures, conferences, and public functions

For 20 years, it has served as a cultural, educational, and philanthropic hub. To demolish it would be to erase part of Ogun’s intellectual and social heritage.

Punishing Investment

Daniel could have sited his projects anywhere in Nigeria or abroad, yet he chose Ogun State, creating jobs, boosting infrastructure, and attracting other investors. Now, this same government is sending a chilling message: in Ogun State, your property rights depend on your political alignment.

The Bigger Picture

The Asoludero Court case is not just about one property; it is about the credibility of governance in Ogun State. By:

* Applying a 2022 law to a 2004 building

Skipping legally required enforcement steps

Acting with unusual speed in a politically charged context

The Abiodun administration risks damaging investor confidence, eroding respect for the rule of law, and cementing a reputation for selective, punitive governance.

If left unchecked, such actions will not only stifle private investment but will also cast a long shadow over Ogun State’s political and economic future.

Seunmanuel Faleye writes from Lagos.

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