Court Restrains Edo Govt From Demolishing APC Chieftain’s Hotel

A Benin City High Court, presided over by Justice D. I.
Okungbowa, has restrained the Edo State Government and its agents
from demolishing a hotel belonging to a chieftain of the All
Progressives Congress (APC) in State, Tony Adun, popularly known as
Tony Kabaka.

The State Government had alleged that the hotel, T. Latifah
Hotel and Suites, located at the Ugbor axis of the State capital,
encroached on a government primary school land.

It would be recalled that the State Government had through the
Ministry of Urban Planning, issued a seven-day notice to Adun to
remove the hotel.

The Government said it would commenced demolition of illegal
structures erected on government property, including public schools
and waterways as well as roof eave-extensions and structures
erected on the right of way of roads/streets, moats, river banks,
TCN high tension lines, among others in Benin City and other major
settlements in the state.

It said the exercise was to address the challenge incessant
cases of flooding in urban centres adding that the cost of such
action would be recovered from the violators in a law court of
competent jurisdiction.

Temporary respite however came the way of Kabaka Wednesday, when
Justice Okungbowa, issued the restraining order in a suit no
B/151/05/2019.

Okungbowa noted that more justice would be served if the
defendants are temporarily restrained from carrying out their
threat of demolishing the structure than allowing them to
demolish.

“An order of interim injunction restraining the defendants,
particularly the 1st defendant, from carrying out and or
demolishing, removing, pulling down or altering the
claimant/applicant’s hotel buildings known as T. Latifah Hotel and
She, lying and situate at No1 Akin Oladiyun Street, behind Ugbor
Primary School, Ugbor GRA, Benin, Edo State, pending the
determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory
injunction.

“It seems to me that more justice will be served if the
defendants are temporarily restrained from carrying out their
threat of demolishing the structure than allowing them to demolish
same, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice
for interlocutory injunction already filed,” the order said.

The embattled hotelier had earlier this week vowed to die if the
State Government went ahead to demolish his multi-million naira
hotel.

Adun in a video he posted online, alleged that he was targeted
because he refused to support Governor Obaseki’s second term
bid.

He said his property was issued with a valid Certificate of
Occupancy and a Deed of Transfer that carries the signature of the
Surveyor-General of the State.

He however opted to beg Governor Godwin Obaseki “temper justice
with mercy” and spare his hotel.

Meanwhile, some concerned youths in the in the area have called
on the State Government to temper justice with mercy by reneging
its demolishion threat.

The youths who trouped to the building said they were there to
sympathize with Adun.

Spokesman for the youths, Mr. Charles Uyiekpen, urged Governor
Obaseki to show compassion on Mr. Adun no matter his offenses and
allowed the hotel to remain.

Uyiekpen said that the pulling down of the building will only
increase the level of unemployment in the state noting that the
hotel has been able to put foods on the tables of the citizens of
the state.

“All we are saying is that the Governor should please have
mercy, no matter what he [Adun] has done,” he pleaded.

NAF, Airbus Africa Partner on Aircraft Equipment
Serviceability

The Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar,
has urged Airbus Africa & Middle East to improve its
maintenance and logistical support to the Nigerian Air Force (NAF)
in the areas of training and prompt provision of spares in order to
better serve the NAF in its efforts at dealing with the security
challenges confronting the Nation. The CAS made this known today,
23 October 2019, while receiving the President Airbus Africa &
Middle East, Mr Mikail Houari, and other executives of the Company
on a courtesy visit at Headquarters NAF Abuja.

Speaking further, the CAS highlighted that the nature of the
threats confronting Nigeria required strategic partnerships at
governmental and non-governmental levels, not just within Africa
but also in Europe and other parts of the world. The CAS observed
that, by virtue its human and natural resource endowment as well as
its Geo-strategic location, Nigeria deserves the support of all its
partners and friends to deal with the security challenges facing
it. He noted that the NAF, in synergy with sister Services and
other security agencies, has continued to work assiduously to
protect the lives and properties of Nigerians. He further said NAF
personnel were wholeheartedly committed, highly motivated, willing,
able and ready to deal with the terrorists and other criminal
elements to ensure a secured Nigeria. He noted however that this
would require the support of friends and partners, through the
provision of robust technical support and training for more
effective and efficient employment of Air Power. Air Marshal
Abubakar stressed that Airbus Africa and other companies could play
their part, in this regard, by ensuring shortened delivery times
while also providing more comprehensive after sales services.

In his response, Mr Mikail Houari commended the NAF for its
immense contributions as well as the sacrifices made by its
personnel in the fight against insurgency and other forms of
criminality in the Country. He noted that Airbus Africa was
extremely proud of being a part of the NAF’s contributions to
national security over the years. He said the Company, being a
responsible partner, was not unaware of the needs of the Service at
this critical time and would do its utmost to meet these
requirements. He promised that Airbus Africa would continue to do
its best to provide needed equipment, spares, services as well as
training, in a timely and cost-effective manner. In reiterating
their commitment to Nigeria, Mr Houari, stated that the Company had
established a foundation to support young technology start-up
companies, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility. This, he
said, was another way of recognizing the critical importance of
Nigeria and indeed the whole of Africa to Airbus.

Others present at the event were Headquarters NAF Principal
Staff Officers as well as Airbus Africa & Middle East
executives. One of the highlights of the visit was the presentation
of models of 2 Airbus-produced aircraft to the CAS.

IBIKUNLE DARAMOLA
Air Commodore
Director of Public Relations and Information
Nigerian Air Force