Court Restrains Edo Govt from Demolishing APC Chieftain's Hotel

A High Court in Benin-city, Edo State capital, on Wednesday restrained the state government from demolishing T. Latifah Hotel, a property belonging Mr. Tony Adun.

The hotel, located at Ugbor in Oredo local Government Area of the state, was alleged to have been built on government land.

Justice D. I. Okungbowa gave the restraining order in a suit No. B/151/05/2019 filed by Mr. Adun.

He said: “An order of interim injunction is hereby given, restraining the defendants, particularly the 1st defendant (Edo State Government), from carrying out and or demolishing, removing, pulling down or altering the claimant/applicant's hotel buildings known as T. Latifah Hotel and Suites, situated at No1 Akin Oladiyun Street, behind Ugbor Primary School, Ugbor GRA in Benin-city, Edo State, pending the determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.”

The court, having heard U. I. Osa- Uwagie for the claimant/applicant, ordered as follows: "It seems to me that more justice will be served if the defendants are temporarily restrained from carrying out their threat of demolishing the structure than allowing them to demolish same pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction already filed."

On his part, Mr. Tony Adun, while pleading with the state government to temper justice with mercy, said the property has a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), and that there is already a court injunction restraining the state government from pulling down the building.

"You see, this is my deed of transfer that I used in buying the property. This is the signature; this is the Oba's approval. You see, this is the signature of the Surveyor-General of the state. So, you can see he signed it himself," Adun said.

Meanwhile, some concerned youths in the state have called on the state government to temper justice with mercy to allow the buildings remain on the land.

The youths in their large number gathered at the hotel as early as 9a.m. to sympathise with Adun, who has been visibly disturbed by the message of the demolition of his property from the state Governor, Godwin Obaseki.

Addressing journalists at the premises of the hotel, one of the spokespersons for the youths, Mr. Charles Uyiekpen, who said he came from Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of the state in respect of the proposed demolition, noted that the governor should show compassion on Adun no matter his offences and allowed the hotel to remain.

Uyiekpen said pulling down the building would only increase the level of unemployment in the state, noting that the hotel has been able to put foods on the tables of some citizens of the state who work there.

"I came all the way from Ikpoba-Okha LGA when I heard of the news to sympathise with him. Adun is a lovely man, he is good to everybody and he is helping us to take care of some of the youths in Ikpoba-Okha LGA.

"All we are saying is that the governor should please consider it, because if he does anything to this compound, it is going to affect all the youths in the state, including the workers of the hotel,” he said.