Nigerian Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has denied reports that he owns the land where the Ikoyi building collapsed.
Osinbajo, who expressed his condolences to the families and relatives of all those killed, injured, or harmed in the collapsed building under construction on Gerrard Road in Ikoyi, termed the occurrence as a terrible tragedy.
Responding to claims that the land was sold to him by Chief Michael Ade Ojo, Chairman of Elizade Motors, and news that he meddled with the Lagos State regulatory authorities to unseal the property, Osinbajo stated that he has never been associated with development of any land since becoming Vice President.
Osinbajo’s Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity released a statement where he addressed the issue.
The statement reads in part:”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 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.”
