The Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, has denied ownership of the collapsed 21- story building in Ikoyi, Lagos State, and threatened to sue an online medium that linked him to the property.
This is as the death toll from the building that fell on Monday reached 40. Among the latest dead bodies to be pulled out of the rubble were those of the owner and managing director of Fourscore Heights Limited, Mr Femi Osibona, and his friend, Wale Bob-Oseni.
Mr. Bob-Oseni, a United States of America-based Nigerian businessman and real estate developer, was on his way to catch a flight back to base when he received a call from Mr. Osibona, to meet him at the now ill-fated property. Both friends were subsequently consumed in the rubble as the house came down.
Denying having any connections with the property, Osinbajo has never had any relationship, either legally or beneficially, with the land, the collapsed building or its development.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Friday by his spokesman, Mr. Laolu Akande the Vice President condoled with the families and relatives of all those who died, those injured or affected in the tragedy.
He also took a swipe at the online paper that imputed on him the ownership of the property, evening going as far as claiming that Osinbajo owns the land on which the property was both. It claimed that the VP had bought the land from a businessman, Chief Michael Ade-Ojo, who is Chairman of Elizade Motors. and
The online medium had also claimed that the VP had intervened last year when the Lagos State government through its agency sealed the property and got it reopened.
Debunking these claims, the statement said: “Let it be made 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 utilize 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.”
Puncturing the claims, the statement noted that “undoubtedly well rewarded for the criminal and inhumane conduct. Typical of a hatchet job and deliberately irresponsible journalism, the publication was not signed by anyone.
“The Vice President has referred this disgraceful publication to his lawyers for prompt legal action,” the statement said.
Ade-Ojo Denies Selling collapsed building land to Osinbajo
in a related development, Chief Michael Ade-Ojo, the consummate businessman and founder of both Elizade Motors and Elizade University, has denied selling the land on which the collapsed Ikoyi 21-story building was built to Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
Chie Ade-Ojo made the declaration in a statement he issued in response to a claim by an online medium that he sold the land on which the collapsed building was standing.
The Chief noted however that he owns the property next to the collapsed building which he does not intend to sell.
“To be clear, I own a property next to the said building, which I have not sold and do not intend to sell to anyone,” Chief Ade-Ojo said in his statement.
His full statement reads: “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.
“In addition, I did not sell any property to the vice president at any time whatsoever.
“To be clear, I own a property next to the said building, which I have not sold and do not intend to sell to anyone.”
On his part, Vice President Osinbajo has also denied owning the land or the high-rise building and has threatened legal action against the online medium.
