April 25, (THEWILL) – Associates of the late legal icon and human rights advocate, Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN), have called on the Lagos State Government to demolish a four-storey apartment building erected adjacent to his residence in Ikeja GRA, citing serious safety concerns for the occupants of the Fawehinmi home.
The group, which includes prominent figures such as Femi Falana (SAN), Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), Adindu Ugwuzor, Richard Akinnola, Edetaen Ojo, Bayo Alabidun, Lanre Arogundade, and Femi Aborisade, raised the alarm during a press briefing held at Fawehinmi’s residence on Friday, April 25, 2025.
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Olumide-Fusika accused the developers of the adjacent structure of grossly violating Lagos State’s building regulations and endangering lives by erecting the building barely inches from the fence separating it from Fawehinmi’s home.
“An individual or group, acting in flagrant disregard for Lagos State’s building codes, have constructed a four-storey apartment—functioning as a hotel—right beside Chief Gani’s fence,” he said. “This is not only illegal, it is extremely dangerous.”
He revealed that a 1,000-litre water tank installed atop the building had fallen into the Fawehinmi compound on three separate occasions.
“The water tank has collapsed thrice into the premises. Thankfully, no lives were lost, but it clearly shows how recklessly close the structure is. The fence is already at risk of collapsing, and the lives of Chief Gani’s family members are in real danger,” he stated.
Olumide-Fusika further expressed disappointment over the failure of relevant authorities to prevent such construction despite the visible presence of law enforcement and regulatory bodies in the state.
“You see uniforms all over—police, local government officials—but where’s the protection? How can this happen right under the nose of agencies tasked with preventing illegal developments?” he queried.
Corroborating the concerns, Femi Falana (SAN) recalled an incident in which one of Fawehinmi’s sons complained about debris from the construction falling into their compound. Falana emphasised that no one is above the law and insisted that the illegal building must be pulled down.
The group outlined three major reasons why the structure should be demolished: it contravenes Lagos State’s urban development regulations requiring a minimum setback of three metres between structures; it poses a potential security threat to the Fawehinmi family; and it endangers lives and property due to its proximity and structural hazards.
The coalition also demanded a thorough investigation into how the building received approval and called on the Lagos State Government to sanction those found culpable.
THEWILL gathered that some members of the group have already submitted a formal petition to the Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide. As of press time, the Commissioner was yet to respond.
Evi Ben Ezaga writes on entertainment, culture, and trending stories.
