NewStats: 3,259,436 , 8,170,114 topics. Date: Sunday, 25 May 2025 at 01:20 AM 136v3p

Fawehinmi’s Associates Demand Demolition Of Hotel Near Late Legal Luminary’s Home


A coalition of senior lawyers, human rights advocates, journalists, and close associates of the late Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN), has demanded the immediate demolition of a four-storey hotel constructed beside the renowned lawyer’s residence in Ikeja GRA, Lagos.

The group, which includes human rights lawyers such as Femi Falana (SAN), Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), and activists including Adindu Ugwuzor, Richard Akinnola, Edetaen Ojo, Bayo Alabidun, and Lanre Arogundade, made their call during a press conference held on Friday, just days after what would have been Fawehinmi’s 87th posthumous birthday on April 22.

Describing the structure as both unlawful and hazardous, the coalition accused the developers of violating Lagos State’s urban planning laws and endangering the lives of the Late Fawehinmi family.

“The purpose of this gathering is to demand justice for Chief Gani Fawehinmi and the great family he left behind,” the coalition declared in a tly signed statement.

“The essence is to see that justice is done and manifestly seen to be done. In this regard, this marks the beginning of a series of actions we might be compelled to embark upon until we attain that goal of justice.”

Chief Fawehinmi, who died in 2009 at the age of 71, was celebrated for his lifelong dedication to the pursuit of justice, democracy, and human rights, often at great personal cost. His associates said the continued existence of the imposing hotel building was a desecration of his legacy.

According to the group, the hotel, referred to as a “so-called apartment,” was built in blatant contravention of urban planning regulations, particularly the mandatory three-metre setback between structures.

“So brazen were the dare-devil builders or developers that they ignored family warnings and chose to build their structure almost on top of Chief Gani’s fence,” the statement read.

“It is possible that they believe they are above the law. Or perhaps, they bear some grudge against Chief Gani and his family… But, whoever they think they are and whatever their motive, our stance is that this injustice should not, cannot and must not be allowed to stand.”

The group raised significant safety and privacy concerns, claiming that the building not only looms over the Fawehinmi compound but also poses a security risk, potentially serving as a surveillance or access point for criminal elements.

“The fence protecting Chief Gani Fawehinmi’s house faces imminent collapse,” they warned.

“A 1000-litre capacity water tank installed right on top of this 4-storey structure has thrice collapsed and fallen into Chief Gani Fawehinmi’s compound from this same apartment. We are fortunate that no one has so far been hurt or killed… But these repeated incidents themselves show without doubt how dangerously close this structure is.”

Describing the proximity of the structure as a “permanent threat to the security and safety of lives and property,” the coalition stressed that immediate action is required to prevent future tragedies.

“We do not want to wait until any such catastrophe occurs before taking action. We have, therefore, chosen to speak out now before deadlier incidents occur.”

In their list of demands, the group called for the immediate demolition of the hotel and an investigation into possible collusion between the developers and state officials.

“Our demands are simple,” they said.

“The so-called apartment building should be pulled down as the construction obviously violates Lagos State urban development and building regulations, particularly with regard to the mandatory setback requirement of at least three-metre space in-between buildings.

“The so-called apartment building should be pulled down because it menacingly towers above Chief Gani’s compound and could provide a safe haven for anyone with criminal and sinister intent against the family…”

“The so-called apartment building should be pulled down because it constitutes a permanent threat to the security and safety of lives and property in Chief Gani’s house.”

The coalition also called for heightened security around the Fawehinmi property to safeguard the family.

“This is not just about a building,” the group concluded.

“It is about protecting a legacy, preserving justice, and honouring the memory of a man who gave everything for the rights of others. This injustice must not stand.”

As of the time of filling this report, the Lagos State government was yet to issue a formal response to their demands.

https://leadership.ng/fawehinmis-associates-demand-demolition-of-hotel-near-late-legal-luminarys-home/

Ok

Confused people

Didn't the state town planners approve of the place before the building commenced? There is no way the hotel owner wouldn't have his complete ed papers before beginning his project.

No solid reason given to the demolition apart from saying that the family didn't want the hotel there. Na you go tell land owner what to build on his land?

And you are tryna bend the law to demolish a four storey building...of money, investment, and hardwork... because you aren't in good with the hotel owner? ...just because the family of Gani didn't want a hotel built around them..or to honour Gani? ...on top another man's land?

The so-called apartment building should be pulled down because it constitutes a permanent threat to the security and safety of lives and property in Chief Gani’s house.”

How does it constitute a permanent threat! Reason not given. Is it noise pollution? Or the hotel owner stole Gani's land?

“This is not just about a building,” the group concluded.

“It is about protecting a legacy, preserving justice, and honouring the memory of a man who gave everything for the rights of others. This injustice must not stand.”

Irrelevant gaslighting! Wonders have ended. So because Gani said he doesn't want the hotel there so it must be removed...from a land the owner bought and wasn't given for free? Wow.

In other words, to preserve and honour Gani, if he wishes that Mr A be killed, he should be kīlled?


Attached is picture of the hotel I presume I saw on Punch.


Where is the threat of life laho?


Those SANs have become petty.

Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Hmmn

What do we call this one bayi?

Morbeta11:
https://leadership.ng/fawehinmis-associates-demand-demolition-of-hotel-near-late-legal-luminarys-home/

Great call for the respect of relevant town planning laws.
Will Sanwo Olu listen and do the needful

Can I get a seed from at least 10 persons here so that I can prophesy what I've seen on this matter.

This I have seen.

Lerrus see pinshure of the said building to see if it's standing on Gani's roof.

Was the building plan approved?

Clout chasers

Sounds very petty.

SANS wey brain don corrode......Did the builders obtain the necessary approvals? If yes, your case is with Lagos government not the builders!

Morbeta11:

https://leadership.ng/fawehinmis-associates-demand-demolition-of-hotel-near-late-legal-luminarys-home/

If the Lagos state government is functional , will thes people have to have these gathering before govt act? What about those that don't have this type of connection.
If the structure is illegal is it not the govt that ought to first notice it?
When we have a ministry of urban planning and LGA in that area.

Ok na

Shame on Lagos state. Every plot of land has to be allocated appropriately. Commercial should not reside in the same place as residential. Useless people. Lagos need to really sack those in their lands department. The most stupid and useless workers in Nigeria. They have no sense of order or class. Before you know, ashewo t go open right beside your house.

You don’t have to care about Chief Fawehinmi, or be aware of his legacy to commend efforts aimed at mitigating risk. As I read, I recalled the tragic video of Miss Cynthia Oguzie. It was a video that was sad to watch. A tank fell on her while she slept in her room in Lagos. She died.

These people have raised a very important matter. The Fawehinmis do not want the fate of Cynthia Oguzie. There is a risk posed by the hotel. The hotel has not focused on the safety of their neighbours, nor complied with urban planning regulations. Those in the Chief Fawehinmi‘s compound could one day die if the tank falls on them. I must think that effort has been made in the past to get the hotel to be considerate, but the hotel probably rebuffed the gesture. And so this coalition and statement.

The safety and lives of Baba Fawehinmi’s people must be sacrosanct. The tanker three times is starkly evident of the danger to their lives. The coalition says there might be collusion between the developers and authorities. We can be honest enough to acknowledge it’s a compromised system. And we owe the coalition to acknowledge that our law machinery is not a Ferrari. The family should not be bullied.

But I am also forced to think, that the coalition should not be the bully. Their statement is suspicious that they may be the bully. As I read, I also thought might Chief Fawehinmi skeletal remains not turn in his grave due to the blatant disregard of his values in this statement?

How do you demand for an immediate demolition? How do you invoke Chief Fawehinmi‘s legacy in such emotionally charged ? What about Fawehinmi’s principle that the rule of law and fairness should guide all matters? What about due process?

If there is a violation of urban planning laws, Chief Fawehinmi would demand a judicial determination before calling for a drastic action like demolition. If the developers have flouted the regulation about the three-metre setback, Chief Fawehinmi would not say the penalty necessarily has to be a demolition of the building, He would consider, could there be structural adjustments or removal of the tank?
Chief Fawehinmi would not necessarily be combative with the hotel, he would face the reckless government whose irresponsibility initiated and sustains the problem.

Chief Fawehinmi did fight for justice and fairness, and if you know the man, you will know that he will be averse to using his memory as a rallying cry in what should be a clear legal matter. These coalition didn’t have to weaponize his legacy for a purpose that goes beyond the pursuit of justice. It reeks that the statement is framed as a personal grudge, but without one evidence. It is difficult to deny that the statement is intended to inflame our emotions and to tell us all to boycott the hotel. That in using it, we participate in disrespecting Baba Fawehinmi’s memory.

But
Tell the people too whether the building was approved lawfully, tell the people too that there are remedies that are proportionate under the law. It should not be dismissed the consequences of your demands esp its potential to to serve a dangerous precedent if the Lagos state government acquise and proceeds to demolish.

The people’s moral outrage should worth more. Baba Fawehinmi‘s memory should worth more. You can earn the people’s outrage towards injustice without framing a private dispute as a public crusade. You can earn the people’s outrage without mirroring the very forms of oppression Baba Fawehinmi spent his life fighting.

Where people build residential, apartment or even commercial buildings should be different. Anything over 1 story should not be in residential area.

Was the structure not approved by LAS government before building it? How can you just wake up and demand that someone house be removed. However, channel your request to the authorities in charge in LASG in order to reposition the overhead tanks but not outright destruction of the structure.

In as much as your request is partially ok, there are more serious issues destroying Nigeria and her citizens that need more focused attention from your kinds than what your are requesting.

chatinent:
Didn't the state town planners approve of the place before the building commenced? There is no way the hotel owner wouldn't have his complete ed papers before beginning his project.

No solid reason given to the demolition apart from saying that the family didn't want the hotel there. Na you go tell land owner what to build on his land?

And you are tryna bend the law to demolition a four storey building...of money, investment, and hardwork..just because the family of Gani didn't want a hotel built around them..or to honour Gani? ...on top another man's land?


How does it constitute a permanent threat! Reason not given. Is it noise pollution? Or the hotel owner stole Gani's land?



Wonders have ended. So because Gani said he doesn't want the hotel there so it must be removed...from a land the owner bought and wasn't given for free? Wow.

In other words, to preserve and honour Gani, if he wishes that Mr A be killed, he should be kīlled?


Attached is picture of the hotel I presume I saw on Punch.


Where is the threat of life laho?

Read....
Read without being biased and you would see where it is written about the Tank and building almost on the fence area.
Read!

If it is indeed true that the water tank has collapsed on 3 different occasions then this is a serious case which needs to be reviewed by Lagos town planning officials.

Apart from this I do not see any other major issues for serious concern especially if the developer secured government approval before commencing work on the project

[quote author=ChiefOkporghe post=135147303][/quote]

Read my post again and see the picture of the hotel and the tank stand.

If it was the tank stand, why not advocate that the owner solidifies or reposition it? Wetin concern demolition of full building concern tank stand?

From the image, how is that tank stand sitting on the fence?

There is ulterior motive. They want to flex power!

I don't understand their line of argument

violates Lagos State urban development and building regulations, particularly with regard to the mandatory setback requirement of at least three-metre space in-between buildings.

Nice idea, but a better idea would have been for the coalition to buy out the building and demolishe it to preserve "a legacy".

I'm sure the owner bought the land and developed with his money.

I'm sure too, that the town planning authorities gave planning permission for the development of the structure. Otherwise, the authorities would have "pulled it down."

Our institutions and system are dead.
They are not working.
Who signed the Approval of that building in the Ministry of Housing?
Where was the Lagos State Housing Authorities when they started the construction of the building untill it was finished and came into use?
If the State institutions are working, they would have stopped the hotel building long before now.
Demolishing a four storey building will call for a very long legal battle between the government and the hotel owner's.
Don't be surprised, the hotel already have a C of O.
Blame the failed government institution.

Sads4r:
Dhdh

Beware of betting scammer's.
I am shocked that will allow such a post.

chatinent:
Didn't the state town planners approve of the place before the building commenced? There is no way the hotel owner wouldn't have his complete ed papers before beginning his project.

No solid reason given to the demolition apart from saying that the family didn't want the hotel there. Na you go tell land owner what to build on his land?

And you are tryna bend the law to demolish a four storey building...of money, investment, and hardwork... because you aren't in good with the hotel owner? ...just because the family of Gani didn't want a hotel built around them..or to honour Gani? ...on top another man's land?


How does it constitute a permanent threat! Reason not given. Is it noise pollution? Or the hotel owner stole Gani's land?



Irrelevant gaslighting! Wonders have ended. So because Gani said he doesn't want the hotel there so it must be removed...from a land the owner bought and wasn't given for free? Wow.

In other words, to preserve and honour Gani, if he wishes that Mr A be killed, he should be kīlled?


Attached is picture of the hotel I presume I saw on Punch.


Where is the threat of life laho?


Those SANs have become petty.

Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

The Hotel not only shares sane fencing with Gani House, the building is also extremely close to the fence u can't troll an object into Gani's compound.

A hotel is a public place of accommodation services with limited security where Any Tom, Dick and Harry can visit or lodge at for any reason good, bad or ugly.

chatinent:


Read my post again and see the picture of the hotel and the tank stand.

If it was the tank stand, why not advocate that the owner solidifies or reposition it? Wetin concern demolition of full building concern tank stand?

From the image, how is that tank stand sitting on the fence?

There is ulterior motive. They want to flex power!

This is a reason.
Focus on the reason they gave and attack it if you wish.

Obaman12:
Please, if there's any one that has the number of Senate Godswill Akpabio's brother, should pls kindly send it to me at [email protected]. My efforts so far to reach the Senate President as the senator representing my district has been abortive. So abeg, if you get the brother number, drop am for me. Na job placement opportunity I wan beg for, no be money.

If you do get the number please help us tell him to confess that he wanted to Kpekus Nat Akpothy!

They are indirectly advertising the hotel for the owner.