By Adibe Emenyonu
Edo State Government yesterday evening, demolished a property belonging to the immediate past deputy governor of the state, Dr. Pius Odubu.
Also demolished were properties belonging to a member of House of Representatives representing Owan Federal Constituency of the state, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere; and that of the owner of Sports Marketing Outfit, Pamozi, Mr. Mike Etamuagbon.
The properties demolished were all situated at the Government Reservation Areas (GRA) within the state capital, Benin City.
THISDAY gathered that Odubu’s property was occupied by his younger brother and his family at the time it was demolished, while that of Ihonvbere was still under construction.
While reacting to the destruction, Odubu described the demolition by the state government as unfortunate, saying the matter was already before the court.
He said he had read on the newspaper in January this year that his Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) to his property situated at Dennis Osadebe Avenue in the Government Reserve Area (GRA) in Benin City had been revoked.
“But the information concerning the demolition came to me this afternoon, March 23, that my property situated at Dennis Osadebe Avenue has been brought down by agents of the government on the directive of the governor.”
“Before now, my attention was brought to a publication in the Observer newspaper in January that the C of O of my property have been revoked without prior notice given to me.
“I went to court on the matter and I am surprised that after they have been served, the government still went ahead to bring down my house with a bulldozer.
“My younger one was in the house when it was brought down and they did not give them notice nor allow them to remove any of their properties before destroying the place,” he said.
Narrating the incident, Mrs. Precious Odubu, wife to the former deputy governor’s younger brother, said at about 4pm, she noticed some policemen who came into the compound and she approached them to inquire about their mission.
“The way they came in, not through the main gate, I was afraid and asked about their mission and they told me that they want to demolish the house and if there are children in the building they should be brought out.
“Without even waiting for my response, they just brought in their bulldozers and started destroying the house without allowing us to remove our properties,” she explained.
