Collapsed building: VP Osinbajo denies ownership of Ikoyi land

Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has denied ownership of the land on which the collapsed 21-storey building on Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, in Lagos was being constructed.

A statement signed by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, Laolu Akande, also expressed sadness over the incident that occurred on Monday.

An online medium had alleged, Thursday, that Osinbajo owned the land on which the high-rise building was being developed.

The report carried by the online news platform had also claimed that the Vice President purchased the land from Chief Michael Ade-Ojo, the Chairman of Elizade Motors.

However, Chief Ade-Ojo has denied owning or selling the said property to the Vice President, however, he admitted to being owner of the piece of property beside the one on which the 21-storey building collapsed on Monday.

In a personally signed statement, Thursday, Chief Ade-Ojo denied selling any property to the Vice President, but admitted owning another property next to the one on which the now collapsed building was built, which he stated was not for sale.

Reacting to the allegations by the online publication, the Vice President described it as ‘sponsored falsehood’ and a ‘hatchet job’ by the media publication.

“Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, is saddened by the events that occurred in Lagos on Monday, 1st of November 2021, where a high-rise building under construction on Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, collapsed.

“He condoles with the families and relatives of all those who have died, were injured or affected in the collapse. 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 published by Sahara Reporters on November 4th, 2021, to the effect that:

“1. The VP owns the land upon which the collapsed building in Ikoyi stood.

“2. That the said land was sold to him by Chief Michael Ade-Ojo, Chairman of Elizade Motors; and

“3. That the Vice President, at some point, intervened with the regulatory authorities in Lagos State to unseal the said property. 

“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.

“Sahara Reporters were undoubtedly well rewarded for their criminal and inhumane conduct. Typical of a hatchet job and deliberately irresponsible journalism, the publication was not signed by anyone.”

The statement also said that the Vice President has referred publication to his lawyers for prompt legal action,” the VP’s statement issued by Akande, Friday.