The Oyo State government has demolished a property belonging to popular singer, Yinka Ayefele.
Despite the protests by staff and fans of Yinka Ayefele, the property which is estimated at over N800m and houses the popular Fresh FM and Ayefele’s music studio in Ibadan was demolished in the early hours of Sunday, 19 August 2018.
The state government had marked the structure located on the Challenge-Toll Gate road for demolition for allegedly contravening the state ’s planning laws.
”Having failed to comply with the earlier stop work/quit/ contravention notice (s) served on your development or as your structure is found to be structurally defective/poses danger or constitutes a nuisance to the occupier or the general public, you are hereby ordered to vacate the site and remove the structure thereon within three days, failure of which the government shall effect the removal and commence legal action against you in accordance with Section 43 of the law.”the notice to Ayefele read
They were sent a motion on notice earlier in the week that read:
“an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants/respondents whether by themselves, their servants, agents, privies or any person acting pursuant to the instruction of the defendants/respondents from demolishing or attempting to demolish the property of the claimants/applicants lying, being and situate at Plot 11A and 11B along link Ring Road, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ibadan, Oyo State, or in any manner proceeding to enforce the notice of demolition dated August 13, 2018 with reference No. TF20181308/002, issued by the defendants/respondents pending the determination of the substantive suit already filed.”
In an interview with Punch a few days back, Ayefele said that the demolition of the edifice is politically motivated;
“If they demolish the Music House, it means they don’t have respect for the rule of law. The commissioner for information had told us to change some of our analysts because they are too harsh on the government but that is against the ethics of our profession in this radio station. The commissioner for information and culture said this about two months ago before all these started; so we were not shocked when the commissioner started making this move against us. We were ready for the attack but we didn’t know the angle they would hit us from”.
Ayefele who posted the photos from the demolition on his IG page wrote
”Oyo state government did at last…..my pain my sweat..so help me God