Why we constituted commission of inquiry on urban renewal – Ajimobi
Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has attributed the constitution of the judicial commission of inquiry by his administration on its urban renewal policy to the need to correct the wrong impression generated by the policy.
The governor said this while inaugurating the commission of inquiry at the Executive Chambers of the Governor’s Office in Ibadan on Monday.
The commission, according to him, will also serve as an opportunity of looking into genuine complaints and grievances of persons and/or corporate bodies that might have been affected by the urban renewal policy.
Governor Ajimobi said that his administration had the best of intention for the formulation and execution of the urban renewal policy, pointing out that, to the best of the administration’s knowledge, removed structures were those that did not comply with the policy of renewing the environment in compliance with environmental best practices all over the world.
He, however, said that possible irregularities in the implementation of the urban renewal exercise which were capable of having negative impacts on the image of government might not be totally ruled out.
The terms of reference of the commission of inquiry included receiving complaints of irregular demolition of properties and structures under the policy.
The governor charged the commission to determine the remote and immediate causes of probable contraventions, with a view to determining the genuineness or otherwise of claims by complainants.
The commission is also expected to investigate any public officer responsible for allocation of premises, irregular demolition and recommend appropriate punishments for them.
The Commission is to receive complaints on the properties and structures that were allegedly removed and/or demolished under the said urban renewal policy by any government agency, ministry, department and parastatal pursuant to the policy as it affected infringements of human and property rights of any person(s), corporate bodies, institutions, associations and/or agencies.
Another term of reference of the commission is to advise the government on the immediate and remote causes of the contraventions and demolitions to determine the genuineness and otherwise of the complaints laid before it, as well as investigate any person(s) be it individual or corporate body(ies), public officers, institutions, ministries , agencies and/ departments responsible for the allocation of premises, properties and/or irregular demolitions and to recommend appropriate sanctions for them.
The Commission is also expected to recommend steps to be taken to avert future re-occurrence of any breach(es) discovered, the commensurate compensations payable to genuine claimants and also look into any other matter relating and/or connecting thereto as the commission deems appropriate.
According to the statement, the commission is expected to submit its reports and recommendations to the state government within the next 60 days.
In his response, the Chairman of the commission, Justice Okanola Akintunde Boade (rtd.) assured the state government that the commission would work in accordance with the constitution and the rule of law.
He also assured that the enquiry would be carried out with all sense of responsibility and the fearlessness it required.
Other members of the commission are Mr. Soji Taiwo , a Town Planner, Messrs Sikiru Idowu Salami and Bamidele Abolarin, both private legal practitioners representing the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Kola Olofa, an Estate Surveyor and Dr. Ademola Aremu, representing the Academic Staff Union/Civil Rights society, while Mr. W. A. Ajuwon will serve as Secretary and Mr. I. O. Tijani, Counsel to the Commission.
