The Ogun State Government has reacted to public discussions surrounding a recent court ruling involving Conference Hotel Limited and former governor Gbenga Daniel, describing many of the interpretations as exaggerated and misleading.
In a statement issued after the March 26, 2026 judgment delivered by Justice Omoniyi of the High Court of Ogun State, Ijebu-Ode Judicial Division, the government said the outcome of the case has been widely misrepresented in several reports.
The suit, marked HCJ/152/2025, listed Conference Hotel Limited and Daniel as claimants, while the defendants included the Ogun State Governor, 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 upheld key positions that reinforce its regulatory authority. It stated that the court ruled that the entry of government officials into the claimants’ premises was lawful and did not amount to trespass, thereby affirming the state’s power to carry out enforcement and regulatory duties within the law.
The government also noted that the court dismissed Daniel’s claim for ₦500 million in damages, ruling that he was not entitled to the compensation sought.
It further explained that one of Daniel’s reliefs was deemed incompetent due to his failure to comply with procedural requirements under the Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law, 2022, particularly in relation to challenging planning decisions.
Clarifying the judgment, the state government stressed that the ruling was based strictly on procedural issues and did not invalidate its statutory authority to regulate physical development or enforce planning laws.
It added that the decision neither validated the disputed developments nor overturned the government’s stance that the structures were erected without the necessary permits.
The government also emphasised that the judgment does not restrict it from continuing its lawful regulatory activities and does not award any damages to Daniel.
Reaffirming its position, the Ogun State Government urged the public to disregard misleading interpretations and instead rely on the actual content of the court’s ruling.
