- * Condoles With Affected Families
- Says All His Property, Assets Already Publicly Declared
By Celestine Okafor (Editor-in-Chief)
Nigeria's Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), has denied an online news report linking him with interest in the high-rise building still under construction which collapsed on Monday on Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Osinbajo condoles with the families and relatives of all those who have died, were injured or were affected in the collapse, describing it as tragic and a painful loss of lives.
In a statement on Friday, November 5, 2021, by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said the news story linking him with interest in the collapsed building and published by Sahara Reporters on Thursday, November 4, 2021, was an obviously a "sponsored falsehood".
Sahara Reporters online news, according to the statement, reported that Osinbajo also owns the land upon which the collapsed building in Ikoyi stood and that the said land in question was sold to him by Chief Michael Ade. Ojo, Chairman of Elizade Motors; and that the Vice President, at some point, intervened with the regulatory authorities in Lagos State to unseal the said property.
The Vice President's spokesman however said for the records, Prof Osinbajo "does not own and has never owned the said land. He has also never been involved, in any shape or form, in the development of this or any other land since he became Vice President.
"At no time whatsoever did the VP buy this or any other piece of land from Chief Michael Ade. Ojo, or entered into any transaction for the sale of that land or any other piece of land from Chief Ade. Ojo or anyone for that matter.
"All property and assets owned by the Vice President have been publicly declared. Also, the Vice President has never spoken to the Governor of Lagos State or any other official of the State Government regarding the unsealing of the said building on Gerrard Road, Ikoyi, which subsequently collapsed.
"He has, indeed, never acted to influence any other regulatory action on the collapsed building, or any other building for that matter, in Lagos State. The Vice President restates categorically that he has no interest whatsoever, and has never had any interest, either legally or beneficially, in the land, the building, or development.
"The wickedness and viciousness of a lie that seeks to utilize a tragedy where so many people have lost their lives, even as rescue efforts are ongoing, and in wanton disregard to the feelings and untold grief of their loved ones for political gain, reveals dangerous desperation, as well as the heartlessness of the perpetrators of such despicable lies.
"Sahara Reporters were undoubtedly well rewarded for their criminal and inhumane conduct. Typical of a hatchet job and deliberately irresponsible journalism, the publication was not signed by anyone.
"The Vice President has referred this disgraceful publication to his lawyers for prompt legal action", Osinbajo however clarified in the statement. NNL.