Collapsed Ikoyi building: Osinbajo denies owning the property

Nigeria’s Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has denied being the owner of the collapsed Ikoyi building land, his media aide, Laolu Akande has stated.

In a statement on Friday, Osinbajo’s aide also debunked reports that his boss intervened with the regulatory authorities in Lagos State to unseal the property at a point.

On Monday, a 21-storey building under construction collapsed on Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos State, leaving at least 40 people dead and many were injured.

Reports surfaced online on Thursday linking the Vice-President to the collapsed building land ownership. The report, which was published by an online medium, also claimed that the said land was sold to Osinbajo by Chief Michael Ade-Ojo Founder of Elizade Motors.

However, Ade-Ojo had denied selling the land to the vice president. Ade-Ojo stated that the property adjacent to the collapsed building is owned by him and that he’s not willing to sell it.

Ade-Ojo’s statement read, “It has come to my attention that a publication by the online news website, Sahara Reporters is in circulation, claiming that I owned the land on which the high-rise building in Ikoyi that collapsed earlier this week was built.

“The story titled ‘Photo Proof: Osinbajo bought the Ikoyi collapsed building’ published on November 4, 2021, also claimed that I sold the land to the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo shortly after he became vice president.

“Both claims are outright falsehoods. I hereby state that I do not own and never held title to the said property.”

On the other hand, the vice president was quoted to have expressed sadness about the event. While claiming that report of the VP’s ownership of the land was sponsored, Osinbajo was said to have condoled families and relatives of those who died, injured or affected in the collapse.

The statement read, “Prof. Osinbajo considers this painful loss of lives a horrible tragedy.

“Also, the attention of the Vice President has been drawn to an obviously sponsored falsehood regarding the recently collapsed building.

“Let it be made absolutely clear that Prof. Yemi Osinbajo does not own and has never owned the said land.

“He has also never been involved, in any shape or form, in the development of this or any other land since he became Vice President.

“At no time whatsoever did the VP buy this or any other piece of land from Chief Michael Ade. Ojo, or entered into any transaction for the sale of that land or any other piece of land from Chief Ade. Ojo or anyone for that matter.

“All property and assets owned by the Vice President have been publicly declared.

“Also, the Vice President has never spoken to the Governor of Lagos State or any other official of the State Government regarding the unsealing of the said building on Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, which subsequently collapsed.

“He has, indeed, never acted to influence any other regulatory action on the collapsed building, or any other building for that matter, in Lagos State.

“The Vice President restates categorically that he has no interest whatsoever, and has never had any interest, either legally or beneficially, in the land, the building or development.

“The wickedness and viciousness of a lie that seeks to utilise a tragedy where so many people have lost their lives, even as rescue efforts are ongoing, and in wanton disregard to the feelings and untold grief of their loved ones for political gain, reveals a dangerous desperation, as well as the heartlessness of the perpetrators of such despicable lies.

“The Vice President has referred this disgraceful publication to his lawyers for prompt legal action.”