Dapo Abiodun Suffers Another Legal Blow As Court of Appeal Strikes Out Ogun Government’s Frivolous Bid In Datkem Plaza Demolition Saga

In another stinging legal defeat for the Ogun State Government under Governor Dapo Abiodun, the Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan has on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, struck out yet another application filed by the Ogun State Government (OGSG) in the ongoing legal battle over the controversial demolition of DATKEM Plaza in Ijebu Ode — a commercial property owned by Mrs. Olufunke Daniel, wife of former governor and serving senator, Otunba Gbenga Daniel.

The appeal, marked CA/IB/M.110/2025, was an application by the OGSG seeking an extension of time to appeal a previous ruling.

However, the Appellate Court dismissed the application as incompetent, frivolous, and an abuse of judicial process, striking a sharp rebuke at the Abiodun-led administration’s relentless attempts to frustrate the wheels of justice.

This latest court decision marks the second time this year that the state government’s legal maneuvers in the matter have been thrown out.

A similar application was struck out on February 11, 2025, prompting critics and legal observers to accuse the government of deliberately engaging in delay tactics to avoid accountability.

Despite the back-to-back judicial setbacks, the Ogun State Government still has three other appeals pending: CA/IB/118/2024, CA/IB/154/2024, and CA/IB/155/2024. *”All three Appeals, prosecuted at the public expense and using Tax Payers funds.”*

These cases continue to hang as the state, according to senior legal experts, deploys “classic tactics of attrition” aimed at dragging the matter endlessly through the court system. The judiciary, in its various remarks during proceedings, has not hidden its displeasure at what it considers deliberate stalling and judicial abuse.

It would be recalled that the storm started in September 2023, when operatives of the Ogun State Government under the direct order of Governor Dapo Abiodun illegally demolished DATKEM Plaza, a five-storey commercial building located in the heart of Ijebu Ode.

The structure, which was in the final stages of completion and had obtained necessary approvals and compliance documents from relevant authorities, was razed in the early hours of the day in a move many described as vindictive, politically motivated, and devoid of due process.

Despite public outrage and the submission of documents proving that the building was lawfully constructed, the Abiodun administration defended the action, citing spurious claims of regulatory violations.

However, multiple independent investigations and court filings have since exposed the administration’s position as hollow, prompting widespread criticism from civil society, legal practitioners, and political observers.

Since the demolition, Mrs. Olufunke Daniel has dragged the state government to court, seeking redress for what she described as unlawful destruction, economic sabotage, and targeted harassment.

The Ogun State High Court initially granted her reliefs, including injunctions restraining further actions by the government, but the state refused to back down — instead embarking on a legal marathon riddled with questionable applications and procedural bottlenecks.

The repeated dismissals by the Appeal Court now underscore a growing perception that Governor Abiodun’s government is not just unwilling to take responsibility for its actions but is also intent on weaponizing the legal system to exhaust and frustrate its critics.

The repeated legal losses and what is now viewed as a malicious vendetta against a prominent citizen of the state have sparked backlash from the public and political stakeholders.

Many see the continued persecution of the Daniel family as part of an unending rivalry between political blocs within Ogun State, with the Abiodun administration accused of deploying state machinery for personal and political retribution.

Analysts say the outcome of the pending appeals — and whether the judiciary will eventually hold the government accountable — will shape the legacy of Governor Abiodun’s administration as either one that upheld the rule of law or trampled it under the weight of political vendettas.

For now, the tide appears to be turning against him, as the courts continue to reject what they increasingly label as frivolous, desperate, and legally indefensible actions.