On Monday, the building located on Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos collapsed with a yet-to-be-ascertained number of persons still trapped beneath the rubble.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has claimed he did not have anything to do with the 21-storey collapsed building at the Ikoyi area of Lagos.
He also threatened a legal action against SaharaReporters for publishing a report linking him with the crumbled building, saying the organisation was paid for the report.
It, however, did not provide any evidence to support the false allegation against SaharaReporters.
This was contained in the press release by the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande on Friday.
SaharaReporters had reported that Osinbajo bought the piece of land from a business magnate, Michael Ade-Ojo, the founder of Elizade Motors and allowed his brother to manage the property.
Reacting, the VP debunked the allegations, adding that he has not engaged in such a property.
The statement read, "Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, is saddened by the events that occurred in Lagos on Monday, 1st of November 2021, where a high-rise building under construction on Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, collapsed. He condoles with the families and relatives of all those who have died, were injured or affected in the collapse. Prof. Osinbajo considers this painful loss of lives a horrible tragedy.
"Also, the attention of the Vice President has been drawn to an obviously sponsored falsehood regarding the recently collapsed building published by Sahara Reporters on November 4th, 2021, to the effect that:
"The VP owns the land upon which the collapsed building in Ikoyi stood.
"That the said land was sold to him by Chief Michael Ade. Ojo, Chairman of Elizade Motors; and
"That the Vice President, at some point, intervened with the regulatory authorities in Lagos State to unseal the said property.
"Let it be made absolutely 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 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.
"Sahara Reporters were undoubtedly well rewarded for their 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."
On Monday, the building located on Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos collapsed with a yet-to-be-ascertained number of persons still trapped beneath the rubble.
Different sources on Tuesday told SaharaReporters that the landed property was bought by Osinbajo from Chief Michael Ade-Ojo, founder of Elizade Motors (Elizade Nigeria Limited) shortly after he became the Vice President.[story_link align="left"]100819[/story_link]
“Osinbajo is linked to the property, that house that collapsed on Monday in Lagos State. I was aware when he got the landed property from Elizade. A woman was selling food at the place before, that was where all workers and labourers working around here do eat,” a facility manager had told SaharaReporters.
“The Vice President has a lot of properties in the area, he is using his brother to manage the properties. The developer, Femi Osibona is only fronting for him. Osinbajo even bought another property for his brother in the area, it’s at Mosley Street. The brother is the one managing it personally, he comes there almost every time.
“If the Lagos State Government is serious, they should tell us who owns the land."
The developer's brother, Lanre Osibona was Senior Special Assistant to the President on ICT from May 2015 to December 2019.
Speaking to SaharaReporters, another source had said, “I know the land was bought by the Vice President from Elizade. I can’t really say maybe he sold it to Osibona. I know when the land was bought. That’s where we do eat.”
“I know he owns the land, what are you expecting, so you expect a whole Vice President to put his name in such project. He can never put his name, Femi Osibona, Fourscore Managing Director is only a front in this project. The Vice President wanted the project to finish before 2023,” another source had told SaharaReporters.
A staff member of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) had also told SaharaReporters that there ‘was an order from above’ not to visit the building during monitoring.
He wondered why the General Manager of the agency, Gbolahan Oki, was suspended and the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Idris Salako not punished.