Ibadan – The Oyo State Government on Sunday demolished Music House, the structure owned by popular musician, Yinka Ayefele, and which houses his Fresh FM Station.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state government had marked the structure located on the Challenge-Toll Gate road for demolition for allegedly contravening the state ’s planning laws.
But Ayefele had approached an Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan seeking to stop the planned 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.
However, the state government on Sunday demolished the structure.
Witnesses told NAN that bulldozers moved in at about 4.30 a.m. to commence the demolition while Fresh FM alerted the public on the development.
The government officials and equipment used in the exercise had since left the scene.
NAN reports that the radio station had since been off air while a huge crowd gathered at the scene of the demolition as at the time of this report.
NUJ condemns demolition
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) on Sunday condemned the demolition of Yinka Ayefele’s Music House which houses his Fresh FM 105.9 radio station.
A statement jointly signed by the council’s Chairman, Mr Adewunmi Faniran, and the Secretary, Mr Bola Ogunlayi, said it was highly disturbed that the building was demolished when the matter was before a court of competent jurisdiction.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the building belonging to the popular musician was demolished at about 4.30 am on Sunday by the state government for allegedly contravening its town planning laws.
The council expressed concern about the fate of the journalists and other media workers in the establishment as well as the loss suffered by the owner of the broadcast outfit.
“As the fourth estate of the realm and believer in the rule of law, the Oyo State NUJ expects that the court would have been left to take a definite decision on the issue of demolition before it was carried out,” it said.
The council called on the state government to ensure that “ it comes to the aid of Fresh FM which has been a pride of Ibadan in particular and Oyo State.’’
It urged the government to relocate the station to another site and ensure the smooth take-off of its operations.
