The Ogun state government has explained that the demolished DATKEM Plaza in Ijebu Ode is an illegal structure without an approved plan nor stage certification usually issued at every stage of construction.

The government in a statement signed by the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Olayiwola Abiodun, also maintained that the structure said to belong to Yeye Olufunke Daniel, wife of former governor Otunba Gbenga Daniel, contravened the State’s physical planning laws with numerous defects.

The statement recalled that the owners were served the necessary notices, including abatement, contravention, stop work and demolition between May and October 2022, which were disregarded.

According to the permanent secretary, partially pulling down the defective building was to be proactive, but the owners of the structure are challenged to produce evidence of government approval in their possession.