Hundreds of residents on Sunday trooped out in protest after the demolition of a private radio station located at Music House, Ibadan, Oyo State.
The radio station is owned by popular artiste, Yinka Ayefele.
The Oyo State Government said the demolition was carried out because the building contravenes Town Planning laws.
The demolition of the building began yesterday morning with Ayefele posting photographs of the rubble on his Instagram page, with an emotional statement:
“Oyo state government did at last…..my pain my sweat. So help me God.”
Oyo government said the building contravened the state’s planning laws and blamed it for three fatal accidents on the abutting highway.
The demolished Music House located at the Challenge-Toll gate road, is also home to Ayefele’s Fresh FM Station.
Ayefele had approached an Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan seeking to stop the demolition.
Ayefele’s counsel, Mr Olayinka Bolanle, in an exparte motion, filed before the court, sought for an order of the court restraining the state government from demolishing the property pending the determination of the suit.
Bolanle also stated that due process was followed in the construction of the structure while relevant approvals were obtained from the state’s departments and agencies associated with land and housing.
Justice I. Yerima ordered the claimant to ensure service of the court process on the respondent and adjourned the case till Monday for the hearing of the exparte motion.
The state government on Sunday, however, demolished the structure.
Witnesses disclosed that bulldozers moved in at about 4.30 a.m. to commence the demolition while Fresh FM alerted the public on the development.
