Yinka Ayefele sues Oyo government over planned demolition of radio station

Nigerian gospel tungba singer Yinka Ayefele

Tungba gospel musician, Yinka Ayefele, has sued the Oyo State Government over the planned demolition of his Music House, a sprawling structure housing his radio station, Fresh FM.

The state government had marked the structure located on the Challenge-Toll Gate road for demolition for allegedly contravening the state’s planning laws.

A three-day demolition notice was served on the building on August 13, 2018.

It expired on August 15, and the government said in a statement by Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Toye Arulogun, on Wednesday that there was no going back on the planned demolition.

Ayefele has, however, approached an Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan seeking to stop the exercise.

His counsel, Olayinka Bolanle, in an ex parte 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.

Mr 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, however, ordered the claimant to ensure service of the court process on the respondent and adjourned the case till Monday for the hearing of the motion.