2 arraigned for alleged illegal demolition of N800m Lagos property

<p>Two persons, Falilat Oluwayemisi and Adeshina Balogun, have appeared at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court over the alleged illegal demolition of a four-storey building worth N800 million.</p>, <p>Oluwayemisi and Balogun are facing a six-count charge of conspiracy and illegal demolition of the building belonging to a Lagos developer, Hakeem Olawuyi, NAN reports.</p>, <p>The Prosecutor, SP Josephine Ikhayere, standing in for Insp. Ajayi Emmanuel, told the court that the defendants conspired with others still at large to commit the offence on April 1.</p>, <p>Ikhayere said that the defendants had employed the help of thugs armed with lethal weapons to vacate the occupants forcefully and demolished the four-storey building.</p>, <p>She said that the building, located at Number 20a, Church Street, Isale-Eko, Idumota area of Lagos Island, had 12 two-bedroom apartments, four self-contained apartments and 24 lock-up shops.</p>, <p>Ikhayere said that the total worth of items destroyed during the demolition was valued at N800 million, belonging to Olawuyi of Dapo Ola Construction Company.</p>, <p>She told the court that the offences contravened the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.</p>, <p>The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges.</p>, <p>The Presiding Magistrate, Mr Lateef Owolabi, standing on behalf of Magistrate O. I Raji, admitted the defendants to bail in N800,000 and two sureties, who must be gainfully employed with two years’ tax payment to the Lagos State Government.</p>, <p>Owolabi adjourned the matter until August 28 for mention.</p>