Ogun State Government has responded to widespread public commentary following a recent court judgment involving former governor Gbenga Daniel and Conference Hotel Limited, describing many interpretations of the ruling as exaggerated and misleading.
In a statement issued after the judgment was delivered on March 26, 2026, by Justice Omoniyi of the High Court of Ogun State, Ijebu-Ode Judicial Division, the government said the ruling has been misconstrued in several reports.
The case, marked HCJ/152/2025, had Conference Hotel Limited and Daniel as claimants, while the defendants included the Governor of Ogun State, the Attorney-General, the Ogun State Planning Development Permit Authority, and the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development.
According to the government, the court affirmed key positions that support its regulatory authority. It noted that the court held that the entry of government officials onto the claimants’ premises was not unlawful and did not constitute trespass, thereby validating the state’s power to carry out enforcement and regulatory duties within the law.
The government also emphasised that the court explicitly rejected Daniel’s claim for ₦500 million in damages, ruling that he was not entitled to the compensation sought.
Additionally, the court found that one of the reliefs sought by Daniel was incompetent due to his failure to comply with procedural requirements outlined in the Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law, 2022, particularly regarding challenges to physical planning decisions.
Clarifying the scope of the judgment, the Ogun State Government stressed that the court’s decisions were based strictly on procedural compliance and did not invalidate its statutory powers to regulate physical development or enforce planning laws.
It further stated that the ruling did not validate the developments in question nor overturn the government’s position that the buildings were constructed without the required permits.
The government also pointed out that the judgment does not restrain it from continuing its lawful regulatory activities and does not award any damages to Daniel.
Reaffirming its commitment to urban planning regulations, the Ogun State Government urged the public to disregard misleading interpretations and rely on the actual contents of the court’s decision.
